Early help for Forces

The mental and emotional impact of serving and fighting with the Armed Forces has been addressed for many years. Organisations such as Combat Stress have done sterling work helping former servicemen and women cope with the psychological problems that can afflict those who have been in the heat of battle.

But while help is available after the scars have already been inflicted, there is little in the way of advance training that will enable soldiers, airmen and sailors to cope with the realities of conflict. Great emphasis is already placed, rightly, on physical fitness before deployment; why not mental resilience too?

Today, Prince Harry – who has done so much to help the rehabilitation of physically disabled veterans through events such as the recent Invictus Games – will turn his attention to mental health. He is teaming up with Sir Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary, to push the idea of mental health training for new recruits. Being able to spot the early signs of mental problems is key to stopping them getting to the point where they become debilitating and life-changing.

Training recruits in these matters should help them alert medical officers to colleagues who are under stress but may be unwilling to admit it. Challenging the stigma often attached to mental health problems is also important. This needs to continue after serving, since the transition to civilian life can often be difficult. On average, veterans do not contact Combat Stress until

13 years after leaving the Forces. Confronting the risks and dangers at the recruitment stage is a good idea that might reduce the prevalence of mental health problems in later life.