.More veterans in UK justice system than in combat
LONDON (AP) - Depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse are behind an alarming rise in the number of former British soldiers ending up in prison, a report says - and more veterans have had tangles with the law than there are British troops in Afghanistan.
The National Association of Probation Officers report, issued Friday, added that most veterans don't receive adequate counseling or support when they leave the armed forces.
The report comes at a difficult time for Britain, which has sent thousands of troops to Afghanistan and whose National Health Service - a service that provides free health care to everyone - is already overstretched.
Many fear that as the situation worsens in Afghanistan more troops will return with a need for counseling.
"The (National Health Service) says they're able to cope with the referrals they get," said Harry Fletcher, assistant general secretary for Napo, which is a union. "But whether they can cope with a massive increase is another matter."
By surveying probation officers across England and Wales, the union found that about 20,000 veterans have become entangled in the criminal justice system - compared to around 9,000 troops in Afghanistan.
The union estimated there are about 12,000 on parole or probation in England and Wales and another 8,500 veterans in custody in all of Britain, making up about 8.5 percent of the prison population, Fletcher said, compared to an estimated five percent of the prison population in 2001.
The Ministry of Justice said work was under way to match data on prisoners with the Ministry of Defense's information on veterans to "identify both the scale and scope of the problem of veterans in custody."
The defense ministry said in a statement that the majority of people who leave the military successfully return to civilian life, and that a report last year found that 94 percent of veterans got jobs within 6 months of leaving.
"A small minority can face serious difficulties and we provide a wide range of support, before, during and after leaving the services," the ministry said. Programs have been set up for veterans in prison, including visits by psychiatrists, a spokesman said on condition of anonymity in line with department policy.
According to the data provided by probation officers, the majority of cases - most of which were for violent offenses like domestic abuse - had alcohol or drug misuse as a factor. Nearly half of offenders were suffering from diagnosed or undiagnosed PTSD or depression.
"I've been to prison, and I bumped into a lot of people in the short time I was in prison, ex-servicemen," said Mark Smith, who left the British Army in 1997. "And a lot of them were in there for violence-related issues."
A lance-corporal with the Coldstream Guards, Smith served in Northern Ireland, the first Gulf War and Bosnia. After he returned, he fell into trouble with the police, had flashbacks and nightmares, and tried to kill himself twice. He was eventually diagnosed with PTSD.
Smith said that once they leave the service, many veterans are essentially left to find their own way.
"I wish there was a lot more support so they could have their lives back after what they've been doing for their country."
Smith found help at Combat Stress, a mental health charity for veterans, and is now waiting for an appointment with an NHS doctor to be treated for PTSD. But with a long backlog of cases, he estimated that could take as long as eight months.
There are places in the health service where veterans can find help. Along with the Department of Health, the Ministry of Defense recently set up a pilot program of six clinics across the country aimed specifically at providing treatment to veterans with mental health problems. The program is under evaluation, with a final report due in 2011.
Graham Fawcett, a clinical psychologist in the program's London location, spends two days a week treating veterans, though he said he could stay busy full-time.
His 70 or so patients have problems ranging from PTSD to obsessive compulsive disorder and depression.
Fawcett - who is not a veteran but did spend time in hostile places as an aid worker - says the treatment for ex-soldiers and civilians is the same.
"We treat veterans no differently to any of our other clients, and the recovery rates are the same," Fawcett told a recent meeting of politicians, charitable organizations and mental health professionals gathered to discuss veterans' mental health care.
"This is in the community, with no other support. We find that once we entice veterans through the front door, it's business as usual. The difficulty is getting them through the front door."
The Department of Health said in a statement that mental health care for veterans is a priority, and that "the great majority of veterans with mental health problems are treated effectively within the NHS under mainstream mental health services."
They also said that by next year, an additional 173 million pounds ($276 million) will have been invested in psychological therapies.
Those that don't find help in the health service may, like Smith, find assistance with charities like Combat Stress, which assists veterans with mental health problems.
David Hill, the charity's chief executive, said that the health service is capable of looking after veterans with mental health issues, but that in some areas, people are looked after better than in others.
"I think the fact is in some areas the NHS can do it, in some areas they're doing it extremely well," he said. "But it's not consistent, it certainly doesn't cover the entire United Kingdom, and in some places I suspect the NHS simply wouldn't have the capacity to do that yet, and we are some time away from being in that position."
Combat Stress usually sees veterans about 14 years after they've left the service - due in part to the reluctance of many veterans to seek help - but Hill said that veterans of conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan are coming to them earlier.
"We're usually not the first stop," Hill said. "I think it's fair to say that by the time the veteran comes to us they've all but given up, really, hope of getting help."
MyWay
The National Association of Probation Officers report, issued Friday, added that most veterans don't receive adequate counseling or support when they leave the armed forces.
The report comes at a difficult time for Britain, which has sent thousands of troops to Afghanistan and whose National Health Service - a service that provides free health care to everyone - is already overstretched.
Many fear that as the situation worsens in Afghanistan more troops will return with a need for counseling.
"The (National Health Service) says they're able to cope with the referrals they get," said Harry Fletcher, assistant general secretary for Napo, which is a union. "But whether they can cope with a massive increase is another matter."
By surveying probation officers across England and Wales, the union found that about 20,000 veterans have become entangled in the criminal justice system - compared to around 9,000 troops in Afghanistan.
The union estimated there are about 12,000 on parole or probation in England and Wales and another 8,500 veterans in custody in all of Britain, making up about 8.5 percent of the prison population, Fletcher said, compared to an estimated five percent of the prison population in 2001.
The Ministry of Justice said work was under way to match data on prisoners with the Ministry of Defense's information on veterans to "identify both the scale and scope of the problem of veterans in custody."
The defense ministry said in a statement that the majority of people who leave the military successfully return to civilian life, and that a report last year found that 94 percent of veterans got jobs within 6 months of leaving.
"A small minority can face serious difficulties and we provide a wide range of support, before, during and after leaving the services," the ministry said. Programs have been set up for veterans in prison, including visits by psychiatrists, a spokesman said on condition of anonymity in line with department policy.
According to the data provided by probation officers, the majority of cases - most of which were for violent offenses like domestic abuse - had alcohol or drug misuse as a factor. Nearly half of offenders were suffering from diagnosed or undiagnosed PTSD or depression.
"I've been to prison, and I bumped into a lot of people in the short time I was in prison, ex-servicemen," said Mark Smith, who left the British Army in 1997. "And a lot of them were in there for violence-related issues."
A lance-corporal with the Coldstream Guards, Smith served in Northern Ireland, the first Gulf War and Bosnia. After he returned, he fell into trouble with the police, had flashbacks and nightmares, and tried to kill himself twice. He was eventually diagnosed with PTSD.
Smith said that once they leave the service, many veterans are essentially left to find their own way.
"I wish there was a lot more support so they could have their lives back after what they've been doing for their country."
Smith found help at Combat Stress, a mental health charity for veterans, and is now waiting for an appointment with an NHS doctor to be treated for PTSD. But with a long backlog of cases, he estimated that could take as long as eight months.
There are places in the health service where veterans can find help. Along with the Department of Health, the Ministry of Defense recently set up a pilot program of six clinics across the country aimed specifically at providing treatment to veterans with mental health problems. The program is under evaluation, with a final report due in 2011.
Graham Fawcett, a clinical psychologist in the program's London location, spends two days a week treating veterans, though he said he could stay busy full-time.
His 70 or so patients have problems ranging from PTSD to obsessive compulsive disorder and depression.
Fawcett - who is not a veteran but did spend time in hostile places as an aid worker - says the treatment for ex-soldiers and civilians is the same.
"We treat veterans no differently to any of our other clients, and the recovery rates are the same," Fawcett told a recent meeting of politicians, charitable organizations and mental health professionals gathered to discuss veterans' mental health care.
"This is in the community, with no other support. We find that once we entice veterans through the front door, it's business as usual. The difficulty is getting them through the front door."
The Department of Health said in a statement that mental health care for veterans is a priority, and that "the great majority of veterans with mental health problems are treated effectively within the NHS under mainstream mental health services."
They also said that by next year, an additional 173 million pounds ($276 million) will have been invested in psychological therapies.
Those that don't find help in the health service may, like Smith, find assistance with charities like Combat Stress, which assists veterans with mental health problems.
David Hill, the charity's chief executive, said that the health service is capable of looking after veterans with mental health issues, but that in some areas, people are looked after better than in others.
"I think the fact is in some areas the NHS can do it, in some areas they're doing it extremely well," he said. "But it's not consistent, it certainly doesn't cover the entire United Kingdom, and in some places I suspect the NHS simply wouldn't have the capacity to do that yet, and we are some time away from being in that position."
Combat Stress usually sees veterans about 14 years after they've left the service - due in part to the reluctance of many veterans to seek help - but Hill said that veterans of conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan are coming to them earlier.
"We're usually not the first stop," Hill said. "I think it's fair to say that by the time the veteran comes to us they've all but given up, really, hope of getting help."
MyWay
posted by madtom at 8:38 PM
2 Comments:
Good blog! Please keep on raising awareness!!
I'd like to add something if I may:
I moved to Nottingham from Cornwall just under 2 years ago and needed to get support systems under way for continuation of my care. The relelvant reports were done by my GP, psychiatrist, Pain specialist, Social Services and CPN. None of it counted for anything. The first pyschiatrist that I saw didn't know how to interview anyone with PTSD, let alone a veteran. The first GP I signed up with in the area asked me if I was 'one of those angry men' and the local Social Services manager told me that the support she had authorised for me was only for a few weeks and you've just to get on with it.'
My second GP practise held up my treatment at Combat Stress, having told me that there was nothing the NHS could offer me referred me to a voluntary counselling service in the area the year before. Treatment is limited to 2 years at this service and I have to pay for it. At the moment, my counsellor is trying to do something about continuation of care for when the 2 years are up in about 6 months. It's not looking good though.
I'm currently being cared for by a second psychiatrist in the area that does have experience of working with veterans that have PTSD. I had to go through a complaints process to get that help and I see him once every 2 months now. The NHS seems to be short of counsellors though.
Who helps those lads and lasses that get the crappy end of the stick from the NHS and Social Services that can't complain? Nottingham is lacking in mental health service provision across the board, not just for veterans.
Some people suffering from PTSD are highly intelligent men and women that are working professionals (some in similar fields to the NHS professionals)and they recognise a sloppy, unprofessional practitioner when they see one. The NHS in Nottingham needs to train its practioners to a higher degree in people skills and interview techniques, as well as their particular specialism.
I worked in the NHS for a while but people weren't aware that I was a mental health service user as I worked in a different patch to avoid conflicts of interest etc. The comments and sentiments that I heard some of the practitioners make about their patients indicated to me that it was time they sought a career change.
We need better service provision from the NHS, better trained and equiped practitioners and perhaps a sprinkling of empathy.
Wolf
We're the ones deserving of empathy, we're being lead by the nose to the NHS like sheep to the slaughter.
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