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Veteran mental care 'a disgrace' Veteran mental care 'a disgrace'
(10 minutes later)
Britain's most decorated serving soldier has criticised the government for failing to help ex-servicemen and women suffering mental health problems.Britain's most decorated serving soldier has criticised the government for failing to help ex-servicemen and women suffering mental health problems.
Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry, who was awarded the Victoria Cross, said it was "disgraceful" that some veterans struggled to get treatment.Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry, who was awarded the Victoria Cross, said it was "disgraceful" that some veterans struggled to get treatment.
In an interview with the Independent, he said charities had been forced to step in where ministers had failed.In an interview with the Independent, he said charities had been forced to step in where ministers had failed.
The MoD said a "huge amount of work" was being done on mental illness.The MoD said a "huge amount of work" was being done on mental illness.
L/Cpl Beharry, who was given the VC for twice leading comrades to safety during attacks in Iraq, called on the government to give more help to his comrades suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, depression and mental breakdowns.L/Cpl Beharry, who was given the VC for twice leading comrades to safety during attacks in Iraq, called on the government to give more help to his comrades suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, depression and mental breakdowns.
'Same problem' Unexplained rages
The 29-year-old said it was "disgraceful" that those who had served their country in Iraq and Afghanistan were forced to wait for NHS treatment.The 29-year-old said it was "disgraceful" that those who had served their country in Iraq and Afghanistan were forced to wait for NHS treatment.
We recognise mental illnesses as serious and disabling conditions but also ones that can be treated Defence Minister Kevan Jones If I fall asleep I relive all the contacts [battles] L/Cpl Beharry
"The government should have something in place for ex-servicemen and women," he said."The government should have something in place for ex-servicemen and women," he said.
"Those who are serving get some form of help but even those who are serving don't get enough support.""Those who are serving get some form of help but even those who are serving don't get enough support."
L/Cpl Beharry, who was seriously injured saving his comrades, spoke about his own mental anguish.L/Cpl Beharry, who was seriously injured saving his comrades, spoke about his own mental anguish.
"Everyone experiences combat stress differently," he said. "But we are all linked, we all suffer the same problem in different ways." Almost five years after suffering a serious head wound, he said he had had to learn to live with constant pain, nightmares, mood swings and unexplained rages.
"If I fall asleep I relive all the contacts [battles]," he said.
"I start sweating. Kosovo, Northern Ireland, Iraq - it all blends into one."
We recognise mental illnesses as serious and disabling conditions but also ones that can be treated Defence Minister Kevan Jones
He spoke about getting into an argument over a minor car accident, which had to be broken up by the police.
"It was not about the car, it was not about the accident. I have been told that because of what happened to me (in Iraq) all my body can remember is defence," he said.
"Any time something happens I go into a defence mode.
"You spend six months on the battlefield and you have to defend yourself every day and then you come back to normal life and go to Tesco and someone runs into your trolley.
"You have to stop and think - it is only a trolley, you are not on the battlefield."
'Not complacent'
Defence Minister Kevan Jones said: "We recognise mental illnesses as serious and disabling conditions but also ones that can be treated.Defence Minister Kevan Jones said: "We recognise mental illnesses as serious and disabling conditions but also ones that can be treated.
"Our dedicated psychiatric teams based in theatre provide the very best diagnosis and treatment of psychological illnesses both during and after deployments.""Our dedicated psychiatric teams based in theatre provide the very best diagnosis and treatment of psychological illnesses both during and after deployments."
He insisted the government was "not complacent" and had awarded a new contract to the NHS for the provision of in-patient mental health services.He insisted the government was "not complacent" and had awarded a new contract to the NHS for the provision of in-patient mental health services.
"In addition we have recently introduced mental health pilots across the UK; commissioned research into mental health conditions; and expanded our medical assessment programme at St Thomas' Hospital to include assessment of veterans with operational service from 1982," he added."In addition we have recently introduced mental health pilots across the UK; commissioned research into mental health conditions; and expanded our medical assessment programme at St Thomas' Hospital to include assessment of veterans with operational service from 1982," he added.
Figures published by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in November showed nearly 4,000 new cases of mental health disorder were diagnosed among armed services personnel in 2007.Figures published by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in November showed nearly 4,000 new cases of mental health disorder were diagnosed among armed services personnel in 2007.
They also showed personnel sent to Afghanistan or Iraq were more likely to suffer post traumatic stress disorder.They also showed personnel sent to Afghanistan or Iraq were more likely to suffer post traumatic stress disorder.