Iraq war veterans facing mental health meltdown

LONDON - At least 1333 British servicemen and women, almost 1.5 per cent of those who served in the Iraq war, have returned with psychiatric problems.

The official figures identify those who were diagnosed with mental health problems on duty. Many veterans are now receiving little or no treatment for mental health problems.

Questions have also been raised about the level of care being given to regular soldiers, reservists and members of the Territorial Army, some of whose symptoms emerged after ending active service, many of whom are not included in the statistics.

The January 2003-September 2005 figures show that 182 of the 1333 are suffering from post traumatic stress, while 601 have "combat stress". A further 237 suffer depression and another 167 have other forms of mental illness.

Private Anthony Bradshaw is one of those who came back home still haunted by his experience of Iraq. The 22-year-old former regular soldier in the Pioneer Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps, suffers from recurrent panic attacks and nightmares.

But despite his Army records stating that he may be suffering from stress, he was seen only once by a psychiatrist before being discharged. Bradshaw enrolled at an agriculture college in Hull.

But yesterday, like on many other occasions in the past, he had to leave his class and return home suffering from a panic attack. "I had never, ever had any such problems in the past, I had a healthy and stable life. I have forgotten what it is like to have a normal life now. There are physical symptoms, but what has happened to me mentally is much worse. I feel frightened if I go out on my own, I wake up in the night feeling frightened. I would not wish this experience on anyone."

A senior military psychiatrist, Group Captain Frank McManus, acknowledged that reservists in particular are suffering from a lack of psychiatric care from the Ministry of Defence. "They have a particularly rough deal. Once they are demobilised and return to civilian life they are not entitled to health care. They are more vulnerable because in their normal working day and life they have no contact with the military, they are surrounded by people who cannot begin to understand what they went through in Iraq.

"The MoD at the highest level is aware of the problem with reservists and solutions are being sought."

The ministry said that the matter was not being neglected, but as yet no solution had been found. The National Health Service was being made aware of possible problems which those returning to civilian life may face.

- INDEPENDENT