NI soldiers 'face combat stress'

Soldiers can suffer psychological trauma years after serving

Soldiers from Northern Ireland form the single biggest group showing the symptoms of combat stress.

The Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society, known as Combat Stress, is urging the government to do more to help soldiers and former soldiers cope.

The problem is not confined to young soldiers. One case involved an army veteran who is 100 years old.

The society's chief executive Toby Elliott, who is visiting Belfast, said 600 new cases came forward each year.

The single largest group needing help were from Northern Ireland.

"Post Traumatic Stress Disorder has some really disturbing symptoms; the nightmares, the flashbacks, terrible sleep problems, problems with relationships," he said.

"A lot of people will use either alcohol or, in some cases, drugs to try and drown out the symptoms."

The charity offers support in dealing with these symptoms.

Symptoms

It aims to help former soldiers who perhaps have been out of work for many years, to return to work.

It also helps those showing symptoms of PTSD to hold on to their jobs. "We look for people who have been out of work for many years, some of them have been discharged from the Ulster Defence Regiment," Mr Elliott said.

"The biggest problem is that the Home Service soldiers are concerned about personal security.

"It is trying to build treatment and welfare services for them which they can trust.

"If we can do that, if we get a lot of help because it is a huge load that we have here, then we can make a difference."

Mr Elliott said that the stigma attached to mental health problems put many soldiers off asking for help.

Yet, he said, the sadness was that if they approached Combat Stress early enough, then the charity could make a "real difference".

In Northern Ireland, Combat Stress works closely with the Omagh Centre for Treatment and Trauma.