Women and mental health
Women who have experienced trauma are twice as likely to suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Ten percent of women are likely to develop the mental health condition compared to four percent of men according to the National Centre for PSTD in Boston.
They also say that men and women may experience different symptoms.
“Women with PTSD are more likely to feel depressed and anxious, whilst men are more likely to have problems with alcohol and drugs.”
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said “no one really knows why the rate for women is higher than men; current thinking is that women are better at reporting it.”
"Silence is the biggest enemy"
Jean Murray from Combat Stress, a charity which provides treatment and support for veterans with conditions such as PTSD said:
“In our experience they’re not responding earlier or at a higher rate. They’re coming to us at a similar stage as men, 14 years down the line. There is still a huge stigma attached to mental health issues, which means many don’t speak out. Silence is the biggest enemy”
Caused by exposure to a dramatic or traumatic event, PTSD can have far reaching impacts.
One victim, Julie, was a member of the Royal Logistics Corps, in an account given to Combat Stress, she tells her story;
“My first deployment was in Bosnia in 1997; I did about eight months as a Lance Corporal and enjoyed it. I did another six months in 1998 and then did a further two years in 1999.
“These two years were quite difficult and stressful. Once I had to mount guard on a mass grave- and clear the blood from the site of a grenade explosion that had killed a soldier and civilians.”
Julie was then posted to Kabul and late Bagram in 2002.
“Death was everywhere – the result of bombings and shootings. The threat and danger was intense.”
“By now, five years of operations were beginning to take their toll. I was having nightmares and losing confidence in myself. I had a permanent ‘fed up’ feeing. A Community Psychiatric Nurse recommended a week’s leave in the UK.
When Julie returned to Afghanistan there was a notable change in her behaviour.
In September 2002 she was discharged from the Army.
“It took a long time to sink in. I was told I had adjustment disorder and that in six to twelve weeks I would be back to normal. I waited for the 12 weeks to end, but they never did.
"I spent three years like that – not working, not going out of the house, not getting up some days. I had nightmares, panic attacks and flashbacks.”
In 2005 Social Services put Julie in touch with the Veteran’s Agency and she was awarded 40% War Pension following a diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. She has been receiving support from Combat Stress since 2006.
“The nightmares are still there though less frequent. And I still have panic attacks, but if my life never improves from now, I know I can cope, where as before I couldn’t even see the next day, never mind the future.”
A full report into mental health issues in the military is due at the end of this month.
The MoD is currently funding six mental health pilots around the country, where veterans and members of the forces can visit drop in centres to discuss concerns.