Counselling project helps trauma (PTSD) in war veterans
Thursday 3rd September, 2009
A counselling project in Cornwall has been set up to help war veterans suffering with mental health problems.
The project aims to help those suffering with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during or after a career in the armed forces.
The two year pilot is being funded by the Ministry of Defence and aims to help more than 50 ex-service personnel and carers to overcome PTSD and its symptoms. The hope is for the project to grow as demand for help with trauma among veterans increases.
According to MoD figures, 1,636 members of the armed forces were diagnosed with mental health disorders in the first six months of 2008. Less than 1% of those diagnosed came forward for help during that period even though they continued to serve. 66 of those were diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder.
If you’re suffering with mental health problems during service or after leaving the armed forces then counselling is one therapy that can help.
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January 30th, 2011 at 8:42 pm
Just to draw your attention to a set of books of mine, including Counselling Victims of Warfare ISBN 1 85775 721
Uses fictitious dialogue to explore the application of a person-centred approach to counselling when working with victims of warfare, both civilians and military personnel. Published by Radcliffe Publishing.
Available from me http://www.richardbj.co.uk or from Amazon and all on-line book stores.
Part one of the book addresses the trauma of atrocity experienced by a civilian, Ania,in Bosnia, now trying to start a new life with her daughter (conceived through rape) in England.
In part two of the book, Oliver, a counsellor works with Graham, a member of the army traumatised by events in Northern Ireland and in Iraq.
‘My generation of servicemen would not have experienced, indeed would not have known about, counselling. For Graham … his first meeting with Oliver is, using a military term, ‘a night encounter’. He knows someone is there, but because it is dark, if not pitch black, is he friend or foe, and what are his intentions? Richard describes this encounter admirably, sensitive to the difficulty someone like Graham may have early on in establishing trust with a mental health progfessional’ John Castle, Captain, Royal Navy (1958-1995).