Why help?
Evidence has shown that most service men and women do not seek help for combat related stress issues until 10-14 years after the event. Considering the United Kingdom’s recent Military commitments in Iraq, Northern Ireland and Afghanistan (with the numbers at any one time being as high as 15,000+), the figure for those potentially suffering from their experiences whilst on active service is substantial.
Britain’s soldiers, air personnel and sailors all put their lives on the line so that our lives may be safer. Even before they leave for a tour of duty they know that it is a well-known fact of warfare that some of them will suffer mental distress, because of what they will see and experience.
In and after World War One this distress was called “shell shock”. In World War Two, “battle fatigue”. Now it is more usually known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD. Whatever the name, the effects are the same - complete breakdown. PTSD shatters all normal functioning and social interaction. Soldiers, once brave and outgoing, become timid and fearful. Click HERE to read about the effects of PTSD in some case studies from Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.
Who benefits?
Mental health recovery reaches further than the person recovering. The positive change creates a "ripple effect" that extends outward to family members, friends, and the broader community.
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The key groups who benefit from one person's recovery are:
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Immediate household and partners: Spouses, partners, and cohabiting family members experience reduced caregiver stress, lower risk of secondary anxiety or depression, and improved relationship cohesion (for instance, research notes higher rates of strain or dissolution in households dealing with unmanaged severe mental illness).
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Dependent children: Children living with a parent who recovers from mental illness face lower risks of emotional, behavioural, or developmental instability tied to family stress and inconsistent parenting.
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Extended family and friends: Close relatives and friends who previously provided informal support, emotional labour, or crisis intervention experience a lifting of worry, guilt, and burnout.
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Workplaces and colleagues: Recovery often restores workplace productivity, reduces absenteeism or presenteeism, and improves team dynamics.
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Healthcare systems: An individual's recovery reduces the strain on general practitioners, emergency services, and community mental health teams, freeing up limited public resources for others.
