Military veterans’ mental health issues exaggerated, charity claims

Media tend to portray negative veterans' experiences which may mislead the public, British Forces Broadcasting Service says

Two thirds of adults have been put off joining the military due to fears they will suffer post-traumatic stress disorder or struggle to get a job or a home when they leave.

A study of 2,000 adults shows many adults have never considered the armed forces as a career route due to concerns around mental health issues and low-paying jobs later in life.

People also worry about careers in the military because film and TV shows often make veterans seem ‘damaged, the survey suggests.

A fifth indicated they would have been more likely to consider signing up if serving and ex-serving military personnel were portrayed on screen more positively.

Armed forces charity and media organisation, British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS), commissioned the study as part of its Life After Service campaign to encourage the wider public to re-evaluate their perceptions of veterans.

From 24 February, BFBS will be running positive stories about ex-servicemen and women every day to provide a different perspective – away from stories about unemployment and mental health issues.

Johnny Mercer, minister for defence people and veterans, said: “We have a responsibility to make sure that our personnel are supported and well prepared to re-enter civilian society.

“And the vast majority of people who leave a service career go on to lead successful civilian lives.

“But those stories often go untold, leaving the general public unaware of the exciting doors that military training and leadership skills can open – BFBS are telling the other side of the veteran story.”

The survey revealed a third of adults believe it would be difficult for them to go on to have a successful life and career after service.

Some 45 per cent think those leaving the military would struggle to find another job and a third believe they would not become homeowners.

And 63 per cent are under the impression ex-forces are more likely to have mental health issues than those from other professions.

More than a third of those polled feel there needs to be more positive stories about career opportunities after the military.

Simon Bucks, chief executive of the BFBS, said: “It’s concerning how many people in the UK mistakenly believe that veterans are more damaged than the average person – and that ex-service men and women don’t go on to have successful careers after the military.

“We know from research by the Centre for Medical Health that rates of mental illness amongst UK veterans are lower than that of the wider population: one in five compared with one in four in the general population.

“Plus, we know that 81 per cent of veterans are in full-time or part-time employment.

“As a military media organisation we regularly meet veterans enjoying very fulfilled and successful lives after service, but so often these stories are simply not told by the media.

“We want to change this with our ‘Life After Service’ campaign by bringing the public’s attention to all the fantastic things people go on to do and achieve when they leave the armed forces, helping to paint a more balanced and realistic picture of what life can be like after leaving the military.”

SWNS