Society must do more for its veterans

Areport suggesting high levels of poverty, debt and depression among our veterans is cause for considerable concern. The jobs we ask our servicemen and women to undertake are among the most challenging imaginable.

Those serving in the line of duty often witness things not easily shrugged off.

Veterans realise that and, in almost all cases, know full well what they are signing up for.

However, that does not make some of their experiences any easier to bear — or indeed civilian life any easier to adjust to once they leave service, often with scars both physical and mental.

According to armed forces charity SSAFA an alarming “forgotten generation” is being abandoned by society.

Some are reliant on foodbanks while others end up homeless or behind bars.

Whatever the reasons for such dramatic and depressing outcomes, it appears the burden on us all to look after our veterans is, all too often, being ignored.

The key issue perhaps lies with the timely identification of those most in need of assistance.

Early intervention has the potential to make a huge difference.

Quite what safeguards can be put in place are not entirely clear but it is at least worthy of further inquiry — we owe our veterans nothing less.