People say I should walk away ... but I love my husband

to a trooper after a loaded rifle was found in his room.”

James has been referred to sessions with a psychological adviser for charity Help for Heroes. But attending means a four-hour round trip in the car.

Kate was initially given hope by the Veterans’ Mental Health Complex Treatment Service (VMH CTS), which was started in April by NHS England.

Costing £3.2million a year, NHS chiefs said it would aid 450 veterans a year by offering traumafocused therapies nearer home.

So Kate spoke to Veterans’ Mental Health Transition and Liaison – another NHS service aiding the family – to ask about James being helped by VMH CTS.

She says she was told James’s condition was “too severe” and he must be stabilised first or the therapy may do more harm than good. Kate said: “A lot of people say I should walk away... but I love my husband. He needs me – and our children need their dad. I won’t break us up.” Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust said: “We always endeavour to offer the care that people who use our services require in a timely manner and within the appropriate setting.” The MOD would not comment on James’s pension as a tribunal case has started. But it said a Defence People Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy was launched last year. Serving personnel and families can also call a new 24-hour mental health helpline.