Iraq veterans are denied help for combat trauma (UK)

[Barrett808]

Source: The Observer

Iraq veterans are denied help for combat trauma
Mark Townsend, defence correspondent
The Observer

Hundreds of veterans, including many who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, are being denied vital help by the government to cope with the psychological fallout of war.

Despite ministerial pledges to improve support for British soldiers suffering mental health problems, veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are still not receiving funding for specialist medical treatment.

Combat Stress, a charity that assists veterans with mental health issues, is dealing with a 27 per cent increase in GP referrals of veterans - 1,200 new cases a year. More than half of those reporting psychotic nightmares, depression and suicidal thoughts have not been granted a war pension and are, therefore, not eligible for specialist psychiatric help.

Robert Marsh, Combat Stress's spokesman, said the Ministry of Defence was challenging hundreds of cases because many involved troops who are diagnosed with mental health problems years after experiencing war.

'It can be difficult to convince (the MoD) because so much time has elapsed in many PTSD cases, but that is the nature of these illnesses,' Marsh said. 'We want to treat more unfunded veterans. The challenge is, who will pay for it?'

Read more: http://politics.guardian.co.uk/homeaffairs/story/0,,2251607,00.html

[unhappycamper]

1. 'The challenge is, who will pay for it?'

That question always comes up. You can pay for PTSD care with your tax dollars or you can pay for it providing homeless / emergency services. Make no mistake - you will pay for it one way or the other.