Charities that provide mental health support for veterans who have left the armed forces have reported an increase in demand for their services. According to Veterans NHS Wales, more than 77% of veterans in Wales have experienced at least one traumatic event related to their military service. The Welsh government has said that support services for veterans have been invested in, and are available. Helping veterans in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, the Links Combined Forces organization provides assistance to about 150 veterans.
Andrew McDonald-Rice from the Links Combined Forces charity has said that more veterans are now seeking help because post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) doesn’t always manifest straight away. The Veterans NHS Wales has reported that referrals for veterans with mental health issues have risen year on year, from 191 in 2010-11 to a high of 831 in 2019-20. Referrals dropped this year but the service says this is probably due to the pandemic.
Andrew, who is a project assistant at the charity and teaches painting with other veterans, said that support for veterans in Wales isn’t always easy to find. He added that there are a lot of small charities working in the field.
Veterans often present with symptoms of depression or anxiety, as well as PTSD due to military trauma, according to Veterans NHS Wales. The issue of homelessness among veterans is also a cause for concern. Charity organization Help for Homeless Veterans UK has revealed that across England and Wales, 80% of the cases it deals with involve veterans who have been evicted from rental accommodation.
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