Combat Stress News - Spring 2015

Spring 2015 www.combatstress.org.uk

The magazine of the Veterans' Mental Health Charity

HEROIC LEGACY

Veteran's journey profiled in book

PATHWAYS TO RECOVERY TAILORING HELP TO INDIVIDUAL VETERANS’ NEEDS

EXPERT'S CORNER

Alcohol misuse: the facts

+ REMEMBERING VETERANS

Poppies find new homes

THANK YOU! Our fabulous fundraisers' stories

Contents Spring 2015

Welcome to Combat Stress News from our Acting Chief Executive

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his issue includes some fantastic recovery stories, and I can think of no better way of welcoming 2015 than reflecting on the successes of 2014, while looking ahead to identify ways that we can help the Veterans we serve even better in the year ahead.

Last year was our 95th birthday – a great achievement in itself.

However, when coupled with targeted treatment programmes, stronger partnerships with other Services charities, and an increase both in those who have turned to us for help and those who no longer need our help, 2014 can be described as a truly vintage year.

Looking ahead, I can promise that Combat Stress will continue its work in ensuring Veterans can live free of psychological injury.

There are, thankfully, no ongoing conflicts involving British Service personnel, but while the stigma of mental health is receding, it still takes some Veterans many years to seek help. Last year, we saw a 57% increase in referrals from Veterans who had served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and those numbers are likely to rise. So what are our objectives for 2015?

• Firstly, we have to ensure that we consolidate our progress in 2014.

• Secondly, we will introduce further residential programmes.

• Thirdly, we will introduce a new regional supporter network that will help increase awareness and fundraising.

• Finally, we will reinvigorate our Community and Outreach Services. Veterans will benefit from treatment closer to where they live and our closer partnership with other Services charities.

Also in this issue, we highlight our supporters’ achievements – they do incredible work to raise funds and awareness so we can continue to offer expert care to Veterans.

Peter Poole ACT I N G Chi e f E x e c u t iv e

www.combatstress.org.uk

16 Inside this issue...

4

News

5

Road to recovery

8 Our supporters 9 Raising awareness 10

Inspiring people

12 Expert’s corner 14 Reflections on 2014 15 Thank you!

18

Perfect partnerships

19 A reason to give 20 The numbers count

ways to give

Please visit www.combatstress. org.uk for ways you can help

11 08 how you can help See pages 15-17 for inspiration

Combat Stress Tyrwhitt House, Oaklawn Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 0BX. General enquiries 01372 587 000 Email contactus@combatstress.org.uk Helpline 0800 138 1619 (for Serving personnel, Veterans and their families) Published by James Pembroke Publishing, Bath Combat Stress News © Combat Stress 2015 Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society.

Company registered in England and Wales No 256353, Charity No 206002, Charity Scotland No SC038828 SPRING 2015 | combat stress | 3

News spring 2015 How Combat Stress supports Veterans who have returned from military service Dr Dominic Murphy

When real courage is required

£4,897

HRH Prince Harry with an Invictus Games competitor

Invictus Games raises awareness of Veterans THE SPIRIT of the Invictus Games is clear. Invictus is Latin for ‘unconquered’, and the Games inspired admiration and awe during four days of adaptive sports in November last year. Over 400 competitors from 13 nations took to field, track, court and pool to do sporting battle, despite

each bearing physical and psychological injuries sustained during military service. His Royal Highness Prince Harry was moved to champion the Games after an inspirational trip to the Warrior Games in the U.S. Year on year, the Invictus Games will ensure a high profile

“We came. We saw.

We’re unconquered.”

pays for one Community and Outreach Team (per week)

for adaptive sport, wider opportunities for achievement and employment for participants, and give a positive boost to the public image of wounded soldiers on their journey to recovery.

More than sport, the Games are about survival in the face of pain and trauma, and the resilience of the human spirit in living beyond disability.

SUCCESS ON ‘CIVVY’ STREET LORD ASHCROFT, in his report The Veterans’ Transition Review, has drawn much-needed attention to the process of moving from active service to civilian life.

We know this transition can be made harder because of psychological wounds and the mental health issues they cause. Lord Ashcroft draws attention to the need to prepare from the beginning of service for leaving service. He also notes that those most likely to struggle get the least help – those who leave with less than six years’ service aren’t eligible for a full transition support package. His key

recommendations include creating a more positive perception of those leaving service, support for all leavers, a new work Lord Ashcroft placement scheme and a 24-hour contact centre with details of all charitable support available.

A new website lists 2,200 charities with a remit to help Veterans. This is a joint project of Forces In Mind and The Confederation of Services Charities, see armedforcescharities.org.uk.

A report in the Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps* written by Dr Dominic Murphy, one of our clinical psychologists, highlights the barriers Veterans face in getting help.

These self-imposed barriers include the general stigma attached to poor mental health and the specific hurdles of self-reliance and strength that are a characteristic of military training. We know many ‘soldier on’ for years before seeking help. Those who have made the positive step to get help have been able to summon courage.

To the 77% of troops with mental health issues who fail to do so, we need to drive home the message that seeking help is a sign of strength.

*See the abstract report at www.jramc.bmj.com and search for PTSD, barriers and stigma

Our staff’s work was recognised at a Buckingham Palace reception

COMBAT STRESS STAFF AT PALACE RECEPTION Four Combat Stress staff members were among those recognised for their work in the recovery and rehabilitation of British Service personnel at a reception at Buckingham Palace in October 2014.

Congratulations to Tony Phillips MBE, Reserve Forces Liaison Officer (South), Ken Arthur, Care Assistant at Tyrwhitt House, Michelle Watson, Senior Psychological Therapist at Hollybush House, and Dr Charlotte Johnson, Senior Psychologist at Audley Court.

If you would like to support Combat Stress call us on 01372 587 151 or email fundraising@combatstress.org.uk 4 | COMBAT STRESS | SPRING 2015

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ACCESSING TREATMENT

ROAD TO RECOVERY

Combat Stress offers packages of care that are tailored to the diverse needs of Veterans. We know that each journey begins with a single step.

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ACCESSING TREATMENT

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ach Veteran’s pathway to recovery is unique. Based on individual needs and a thorough assessment, the Veteran’s story is heard and, with them, we set out the way forward. It is important for us to know the depth of their psychological wounds and how they are coping with them today.

The healing process often takes many twists and turns too, but we stick by each Veteran in our care.

Some Veterans require one-to-one treatment or group therapy sessions to ensure they are ready to face the challenges of intensive therapy. Others may be ready to start that treatment and are offered a place on one of our residential courses. Our three treatment centres offer truly excellent care for Veterans with a range of psychological conditions.

A tailored approach Our completely tailored approach allows us to tackle the whole range of issues faced by the men and women in our care. This includes conditions that are made worse by, or are a direct result of, trauma – such as depression, anxiety, Post 6 | COMBAT STRESS | SPRING 2015

Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), poor anger management or alcohol and drug misuse. Through a range of techniques, we create the conditions necessary for change within each individual. Specialist addiction programmes address those specific needs. Art Therapy gives vent to pent-up emotions in a safe and secure environment, sometimes allowing bad memories to be let go and not endlessly replayed. Occupational Therapy boosts confi dence, teaches life skills, improves sociability and helps keep trauma therapy on track. Relaxation and learning how to get better sleep are vital parts of physical health that lead to good mental health.

Before real healing can begin, a person needs to be well enough to undergo treatment. Just as mental preparedness is part of military training for battle, we recognise there is a requisite state of readiness to address the deep wounds of trauma during intensive therapy.

We meet the Veteran where he or she needs us and we use the most appropriate service available. In addition to our treatment centres, we

have teams across the country and we work with the NHS Regional Mental Health Networks and other Service charities. We actively manage Veterans’ care plans as they negotiate the often tricky labyrinth of available help that is out there for them which complements our own.

Promoting services We know that just over half the Veterans we help have found us themselves. The others are referred to us by friends, family, GPs, our website and 24-hour Helpline, and other charities and agencies. We know too that most Veterans wait many years before accessing the help they need. We make our services known as widely as possible through our media coverage and advertising and we run public information campaigns with the Prison and Probation services, the NHS (including GPs), and with the Ministry of Defence to infl uence their process which prepares serving personnel for return to civilian life.

It is heartening to know that Veterans of more recent conflicts are coming to us more quickly than those whose service ended in the 1990s and earlier.

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ACCESSING TREATMENT

5,600

the number of Veterans we are currently supporting

CASE STUDY

When the bread aisle feels like a battlefield

Beryl was in the RAF

After serving in conflicts across the globe, Veteran Beryl Dennett Stannard developed PTSD. She describes how Combat Stress helped her to get her life back.

As the years go by, however, the trauma suffered by a Veteran simply won’t go away on its own and the resulting mental health problems will get worse. The stigma attached to mental health is lessening somewhat in the public perception, but we can’t be complacent. We have to promote our services wherever we can. It really is a case of the sooner a Veteran gets in touch with us, the better.

One success story, amongst the many Veterans we have helped in the past year, is Beryl Dennett Stannard (see right). She suffered from the debilitating condition of PTSD but, with the support of Combat Stress, she is now leading a happy and fulfilling life. We know it took a lot of personal courage for all our Veterans to ask for help and we’re glad to have supported them on their journey to recovery.

Above: Veterans get a package of care that’s tailored to their individual needs

“Our completely tailored approach allows us to tackle the whole range of issues faced by the men and women in our care” WWW.COMBATSTRESS.ORG.UK

FOR those living with PTSD, distressing memories and flashbacks can be triggered by seemingly innocuous events. A trip to the supermarket – with crowds of people approaching from all directions, bright lights and loud announcements – can feel like an ambush, leaving the Veteran urgently searching for an escape route to reach a place of safety.

So it was for 59 year-old retired RAF Squadron Leader Beryl Dennett Stannard. Nightmares about colleagues who didn't come home from the Falklands and Gulf wars began to take a toll.

Her work as a Squadron Leader involved dealing with bereaved families and organising funerals.

Beryl, who signed up for RAF Officer training aged 20 and served around the world, recalls: “You have the sadness of losing close friends, but then you work on as though nothing has happened because that is the system. This contributed to me being invalided out of the RAF with depression and a much later diagnosis of PTSD.”

Relief at last Three years ago Beryl joined a residential six-week Intensive Treatment Programme at Tyrwhitt House, where she began to get the help she needed. “It was a relief to be surrounded by guys who were tough and capable – all the things I was before – but who were just as scared by going to Tesco as I was,” says Beryl. “It was good to realise that I wasn’t the only one who had a problem doing everyday things such as travelling on buses and trains, and even being in lifts. Yet here I was with Paras and guys who had been all over the world, and we were all in the same boat.

“Combat Stress gave me back my life,” says Beryl, who now lives in south-west France with her husband, Terry.

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Our supporters

£11,200 pays for mid-intensity treatment for two Veterans

How companies support our work

All in a day’s work Our corporate supporters have been working as hard as ever to raise funds. Here’s a round-up of some their events and activities Selex Es staff took part in a Santa Run

SELEX ES UK apprentices across three sites in Luton, Basildon and Edinburgh have been working hard to raise money for Combat Stress, the apprentices' Charity of the Year. They took part in a Santa Run and are currently planning their fundraising activities for the coming year.

DOWNS SOLICITORS LLP chose us to benefit from its fundraising activities in 2014/2015. Staff from their three offices in Surrey have held a Burns Night Supper, dress down

THE REGIMENTAL COLLECTION Richard Bent climbed Ben Nevis for Combat Stress

days, cake sales and a coffee morning, and made a donation in lieu of Christmas cards.

ABACUS COVER raised funds for us at its staff fun day. Employees turned out in fancy dress and kept 10 pieces of fitness equipment running for five hours.

BAE SYSTEMS is proud to support the organisations which provide services to Veterans, Service personnel and their families. The company has supported Combat Stress with a donation in 2014.

TUDOR INVESTMENT has supported Combat Stress throughout the year, first by holding a corporate cricket day in which some of the charity’s staff participated.

More recently, Tudor has made a £50,000 donation to help support our Community and Outreach programme in the South East.

LAKETHORNE Group has adopted Combat Stress as its Charity of the Year Partner. Richard Bent kick-started the fundraising activities by climbing Ben Nevis. They are making good progress in exceeding their fundraising target.

The elegant Regimental Collection includes nine designs

REWARDS FOR FORCES

THE MILITARY MIND SYMPOSIUM IF YOU ARE in business and you are recruiting Veterans or have a large number of Veterans in your workforce, you may be interested in The Military Mind Symposium that Combat Stress is hosting in March. Speakers will provide advice for HR directors, managers and occupational health

HOSIERY COMPANY Corgi worked in close association with HRH The Prince of Wales to develop its Regimental Collection, so it made perfect sense to also partner up with Combat Stress, of which His Royal Highness is Patron, to help raise funds.

For every pair of socks sold from the collection £1 will be donated to Combat Stress. The Regimental Collection includes nine designs, each depicting the stripe and colours of the regiments or battalions of which The Prince of Wales is Colonel or Colonel-in-Chief.

The Regimental Collection is available to buy through Corgi’s online store, www.corgihosiery.co.uk, and at selected retailers.

practitioners on best practice in managing staff who have served in the Armed Forces. Learn how you can support your employees and help access clinical care that may be needed.

For further details please email sophie.collins@combatstress.org.uk

REWARDS FOR FORCES is pleased to announce that it has raised £15,045 for Combat Stress, its Charity of the Year.

With four months left of its Partnership, Rewards for Forces is determined to raise as much money as possible and in turn inform its members about the clinical services provided by Combat Stress.

If you would like to support corporate fundraising call 01372 587 158 or email fundraising@combatstress.org.uk 8 | COMBAT STRESS | SPRING 2015

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SOCIAL MEDIA

MORE WAYS TO SPREAD OUR MESSAGE How we have been busy sharing news of our work through national media campaigns

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hrough social media we aim to raise awareness of the work that we do and of the issues faced by Veterans suffering with mental ill-health, as well as to offer supportive advice.

By sharing information through Facebook and Twitter, we reach a larger number of people.

Bonfi re Night and Christmas can be diffi cult

LUKE’S WAR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN IN SEPTEMBER 2014 we created a high-profile campaign to raise awareness and engage people with how Veterans’ mental health can impact family members. We wanted to reach people with links to the military and/or mental health – and the result was ‘Luke’s War is now my War’, a print and radio advertisement.

Our campaign ran across the national press, on radio and in trains across the UK, as well as on London Underground posters. Compared to the previous few months traffic to our website increased by 5% and, on social media, people shared positive comments about the campaign on Facebook and Twitter.

times for Veterans with psychological wounds. In 2014, we decided to try to help as many as we could by sharing ‘tool kits’ created to offer support during these times.

These tool kits have reached over 350k people through social media.

Through subsequent publicity in the media, they reached a total of 22.6 million people across the UK and 138k in Scotland.

Sunday Express Appeal

OUR FACEBOOK PAGES REACH THOUSANDS This post reached 35,000 people

WE WERE excited when the Sunday Express gave us the chance to benefit from their Christmas Appeal. Each Sunday in December readers were introduced to some of the Veterans who are turning their lives around, and learned more about our work. The Appeal

resulted in over 200 new supporters and raised approximately £6,000, but also served to raise awareness amongst the general public of military mental health in a year when British troops withdrew from Afghanistan.

OUR NEW PRESIDENT FACEBOOK FEEDBACK

“THANKS FOR YOUR TIPS, I WAS ABLE TO HELP SOMEONE COPE WITH THIS LAST NIGHT.”

This post reached 39,000 people

“SUCH GOOD ADVICE FOR VETERANS. KEEP SAFE EVERYONE. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.” “BRILLIANT ADVICE. DISTRACTION TECHNIQUES NEED TO BE UNDERSTOOD BY LOVED ONES.” Helping Veterans to access information, such as practical advice on how to cope with Bonfire Night via Twitter and Facebook, enables them to get the support they need, when they need it most – it’s also simple to share it with others.

Keep in touch SOCIAL MEDIA means we are constantly in touch with our supporters, as well as Veterans.

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Facebook

GENERAL SIR Peter Wall, former Chief of the General Staff, explains why he is proud to be our new President: “Having recently retired as the head of the Army, I am now thinking about how the charity must develop as we approach our centenary in 2019. I am looking forward to meeting those who work with Veterans to overcome the challenges they face and rebuild their lives. I look forward to meeting our supporters over the next few years, and thank you wholeheartedly for your support.”

Tell us what you think on the Combat Stress Facebook pages www.facebook. com/CombatStress

Tweet us

Read the latest updates and get in touch on Twitter @CombatStress

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INSPIRING PEOPLE

Robert was a much-loved Grandad

Five-star hero’s lasting legacy Veteran Robert Lang’s extraordinary life in the Services has been commemorated in a book – with all the proceeds going to Combat Stress

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obert Lang, known as Bob, often attended our Surrey treatment centre Tyrwhitt House for support with his PTSD. Undiagnosed for 40 years, he fi rst came to us in the 1980s, benefi ting from our care until 2014.

A former merchant seaman, Bob is fondly remembered by staff and particularly by his Art Therapist, Janice Lobban: “It was often humbling to work with Bob because he had been through so much for his country and yet he was so modest.

He always expressed his gratitude for the support of Combat Stress.”

Bob’s life came to the attention of journalist Ben Robinson, who immediately sniffed out a good story. Together they wrote Ripple Effect, the fascinating account

of Bob’s life, including his tough childhood, running away to sea as an underage sailor and being sunk by a U-Boat. It also chronicles Bob’s lifelong battle with mental health problems before he was diagnosed with PTSD in his sixties.

Ripple Effect, available on Kindle through Amazon, has received an abundance of five-star ratings and all the proceeds go to Combat Stress. One of those top ratings came from Trudi Bolan, Bob’s proud granddaughter. She told us: “PTSD did not stop Grandad from living a full and active life. He attended Tyrwhitt House two to three times a year and always came back home a new man. I was happy that he got to see his book completed prior to his death last year and I am very grateful to Combat Stress for their many years of help and support.”

Leave a legacy to Combat Stress YOU DO not have to have lived an extraordinary life of adventure like Bob Lang to leave a lasting legacy. You could do something amazing and leave us a gift in your Will. Without gifts from people just like you, we couldn’t help those like Bob who need us. Once you’ve provided for your family and friends in your Will, please leave a legacy to Combat Stress so we can help more Veterans. There are many ex-Service personnel and Reservists who bear a heavy burden right now. They gave a lot for us. Help more Veterans to move on in their recovery.

Lewis Smythe

AS SEEN ON TV After seeing Combat Stress on a TV programme, Lewis Smythe got in touch. It proved to be the first step on his healing journey.

AGED 20, Lewis Smythe was deployed to Helmand Province.

Routine patrols were anything but, with the constant threat of improvised explosive devices and sniper fire. “It was like playing Russian Roulette,” said Lewis. “You didn’t know when it would be your time.” The battalion came under repeated attack and suffered heavy casualties. The intense pressure, constant threat and loss of many comrades took a heavy toll on Lewis.

Hitting rock bottom Lewis left the Army in 2010 but couldn’t cope with the after-effects of his time in Afghanistan. He saw his GP who referred him for counselling, but he didn’t take to it at the time.

He was, he says, “a typical soldier – nah, this isn’t for me”. After his father died in an accident in 2013, Lewis hit rock bottom. Then he saw a TV programme about a traumatised Veteran who had been helped by Combat Stress. Lewis could see himself in the soldier on screen and knew he desperately needed – and could get – help.

He contacted Combat Stress and is beginning to turn his life around. Lewis says: “I came to stay at Tyrwhitt House for a couple of weeks. That’s when I was diagnosed with PTSD. I did the PTSD Intensive Treatment Programme and I’m due back for a review shortly.

I’m a lot calmer now. I feel like a new man. I’ve got some confidence back and more ‘go’ in my life.”

To find out more about leaving a legacy to Combat Stress please contact Rachel Kulsdom on 01372 587153 10 | COMBAT STRESS | SPRING 2015

WWW.COMBATSTRESS.ORG.UK

INSPIRING PEOPLE

FROM BASTION TO BANGKOK Veteran Mark Clyde’s health has improved so much that he and his family have embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure

Karen Miles: ‘Our success list is incredibly long’

Day in the life No two days are the same for Occupational Therapy Lead Karen Miles, who works directly with Veterans

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aren Miles is Occupational Therapy Lead at Audley Court, our treatment centre in Shropshire. Karen was inspired to go into Occupational Therapy (OT) by the care she received following an accident 12 years ago.

After completing a degree, she began her second career in the NHS. The daughter of a Serviceman, Karen noticed that the Veterans in treatment would ask to work with her because she understood them. She set herself the goal of working exclusively with Veterans then spotted the vacancy for an Occupational Therapist at Audley Court. She sold her house, packed up the family and moved to follow her dream.

Karen leads a team of four who run group and one-to-one sessions which form part of the Wellbeing and Recovery Programme. This helps Veterans with a complex range of diagnoses to develop inner strength, and teaches them healthier ways to live.

Some OT sessions are based on acquiring practical skills, while sessions in the evening have a more leisurely and comradely feel.

The OT sessions are interspersed among the group and trauma therapy sessions run by the clinical teams. Karen says: “As Occupational Therapists we focus on three areas to aid recovery: self-care (inner strength), productivity (work) and

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leisure (hobbies etc), all of which are essential for positive mental health.”

Karen and her team attend the multi-disciplinary meetings where each Veteran’s care plan is created or reviewed. Occupational Therapists have a unique vantage point as they spend informal time with the Veterans. They gain insights that can be shared with other teams to further improve individual care plans.

A joined-up approach Karen also liaises with the Community and Outreach Teams adding: “We encourage Veterans to write out a weekly timetable to add structure to their activities.”

Plus, she deals with all-important record-keeping and the welcome intrusion of gifts for Veterans from generous local businesses.

Karen, who clearly loves her job, sums it up thus: “Our OT success list is incredibly long and I think that is why we do what we do. We empower our Veterans to make informed decisions, to believe in themselves and to live their lives fully the way they want to. OT is an invaluable part of the Veteran’s recovery journey and I’m so happy to be able to play my part.”

“We empower Veterans to believe in themselves”

WITHIN THE space of six weeks on deployment in Afghanistan, Mark Clyde of the Coldstream Guards was involved in two encounters with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) which badly wounded him and killed friends and colleagues. After one incident near Camp Bastion Mark suffered shrapnel wounds that blinded him temporarily.

Once he regained his eyesight, he was back on duty only to have a good friend killed by an IED that also seriously injured Mark. He was sent back to the UK to recuperate, but everything felt strange and he was very unsettled. He thought: “Everyone goes through this, don’t they?”

Mark was discharged from the Army in 2012, unaware that he had PTSD – and he began to feel isolated. He sometimes couldn’t sleep for several days at a time, was hyper-vigilant, snapped easily and was often restless and agitated. Worried about the impact this was having on his family, he got in touch with Combat Stress. A Regional Welfare Officer visited him at home to begin Mark’s journey to recovery. Mark is now firmly looking forward to what should prove to be an exciting year.

Along with wife Carys and their two children, Poppy and Archie, he has begun a whirlwind adventure around-the-world.

You can follow their travels on their blog: 4goexplore.com.

Mark, his wife Carys and children Poppy and Archie are on a round-the-word trip

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EXPERT’S CORNER

UNDERSTANDING ALCOHOL MISUSE From ancient Rome to the trenches of WW1, there has been a long association between armies and alcohol. Today, however, we are learning more about the downside of alcohol in the military and how attitudes must change, writes Dr Walter Busuttil

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t’s widely accepted that combat exposure is associated with heavier levels of drinking – especially in younger Service men and women.

It’s also the case that heavy drinkers are more likely to smoke and have much poorer physical and mental health.

When we look at those Veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), the rates of alcohol disorders are two to three times higher than that of the general male population.

Studies show that some ex-Service men and women who were unable to get help for mental health problems during their military service – because they feared losing their jobs, suffering stigma or appearing weak – turned to alcohol to cope with their problems. In addition, for many Veterans the loss of military support structures and the challenges of adjusting to civilian life made them especially vulnerable to alcohol misuse, delayedonset PTSD, and major depressive illness prior to developing PTSD.

Our specialist psychological treatments deal with Veterans’ underlying mental health illnesses

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In a survey of over 600 Veterans in our care, we have proved that there is a great need to address the issue of alcohol misuse in particular. In the study 92% of Veterans were exposed to multiple military-related psychological traumas, with 75% having a primary diagnosis of PTSD. Of those with PTSD, some 69% also suffered from alcohol disorders and 62% from depression together with the PTSD. We also know that it takes, on average, 13 years for a Veteran to come to us for help. During this time their condition becomes chronic, complex and impacts every area of their life. Any alcohol disorders will have gone on for some considerable time and become part of underlying poor mental health. It’s worth noting that 80% of newly-admitted Veterans tried to access help through the NHS but for some reason this help has either been inadequate, not been delivered or the individual has failed to engage with the treatment. A new case management programme for substance misuse will help address each of these issues.

Alcohol dependence is undesirable at the best of times, but for a Veteran, it means that their mental health problems are often undiagnosed. Furthermore,

even if their issues are identified they simply can’t be addressed whilst the Veteran is drinking heavily.

Making the most of treatment Each Veteran we treat is, therefore, fully assessed to design a treatment plan based on individual needs. A pilot scheme is running to case-manage the process of dealing with substance misuse with the Veteran, funded by the Big Lottery Fund and the Armed Forces Covenant. This ensures they get the best out of local NHS and other specialist services – all of which can be both difficult to negotiate and a challenge to find in the first place. Services are on offer for the particular needs of ex-Service men and women, but only if you know where to look, it seems.

Some Veterans can be encouraged to cut down and stop drinking, and many are able to do so. Others require more structured intervention and we work closely with local substance misuse services, through each stage of treatment, to achieve this. A minority will need to undergo alcohol detoxification, in which case we will liaise closely with specialist substance misuse services to ensure a good result.

It is only at this point that we can begin

69%

of Veterans surveyed suffered from alcohol disorders

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IDENTIFYING ALCOHOL MISUSE We ask Veterans the following questions: Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?

Have people annoyed you by criticising your drinking?

Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?

Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover?

If the answer is ‘yes’ to two or more questions, it is most likely that Veteran needs help to address an alcohol problem.

“Alcohol dependence is undesirable at the best of times, but for a Veteran it means that their mental health problems are often undiagnosed” to treat a Veteran’s underlying mental health illnesses with our specialist psychological treatments.

Facing up to trauma The reason it is so important to treat their drinking before addressing PTSD, for instance, is that trauma-focused therapies involve re-living the traumatic experience. Facing up to the traumatic event requires that trauma to be processed and challenged and not avoided. Alcohol can interfere with that process and make it impossible to face the memory in the safe, therapeutic environment we create.

Key to our success is our desire to treat each Veteran as an individual. This includes gaining a much better understanding of the whole life of our Veterans – from any early exposure to childhood trauma to the family problems caused by the separation of many overseas deployments. Veterans WWW.COMBATSTRESS.ORG.UK

with chronic PTSD can also suffer a higher than expected incidence of other physical disorders, including cardiac problems and diabetes, with large-scale US Veteran studies showing that such physical illnesses – and premature death – develop ten years earlier compared to Veterans without PTSD. Our treatments are expertly delivered, sensitive to military culture and are offered in an environment that encourages peer support; many staff are ex-military themselves. The first point of contact a Veteran has with us, our Regional Welfare Officers, are all ex-military who share that common background and culture. Treatment aims to re-engage the Veteran with his or her life by reducing the symptoms which prevent them from moving on and improving how they function in everyday life. We are always aiming, as we like to say, to allow Veterans to ‘live free’.

DR WALTER BUSUTTIL MB CHB MPHIL MRCGP FRCPSYCH RAF has been Director of Medical Services for Combat Stress since 2007. His career in traumatic stress disorders started in 1989 during a 16-year service as a military psychiatrist in the Royal Air Force.

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REFLECTIONS ON 2014

Defence Minister Anna Soubry MP visited Combat Stress in July

Combat Stress will benefit from the sale of the ceramic poppies

IT’S A WRAP! We look back on the many achievements of Combat Stress during the past year

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©Paul Burns Photography

ast year, the sacrifices made by soldiers 100 years ago were hardly out of our thoughts. It was a year to reflect on today’s Armed Forces and raise awareness of the range of psychological wounds of those who have served, including those in our care and those who have yet to get the help they need and deserve.

In June 2014 HRH The Prince of Wales, Patron of Combat Stress, marked our 95th anniversary at St James’s Palace where he met Veterans and supporters. His Royal Highness highlighted how we have helped more than 100,000 Veterans to rebuild their lives since our inception in 1919.

Last year also marked the withdrawal of British troops from Afghanistan.

The average time before a Veteran

HRH The Prince of Wales meets Veteran Paul Welton

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approaches us is 13 years, but, thankfully, younger Service men and women are coming to us sooner.

We will have much work to do in the coming years to meet the needs of those Veterans who want our support now and in the future.

Capturing the imagination The imagination of the whole nation was captured last autumn by ‘The Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’ installation – by ceramic artist Paul Cummins MBE and theatrical designer Tom Piper MBE – of 888,246 ceramic poppies representing the British and Commonwealth soldiers who gave their lives in the Great War (see facing page for details).

Minister for Defence personnel, Welfare and Veterans Anna Soubry MP visited Combat Stress in July to see first hand our work with Veterans during a tour of Tyrwhitt House, our treatment centre in Leatherhead, Surrey.

In September, Miss Soubry attended our Annual General Meeting and thanked us for our pioneering and ‘critical’ work

in Veterans’ mental health over the past 95 years.

In October we commented on the House of Commons Defence Committee report of The Armed Forces Covenant in Action, which recognises the impact of mental health issues on serving and ex-Service personnel. We share the Committee’s concern that as the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan fade from public consciousness so too will support for the long-term care wounded Veterans will need. Dr Walter Busuttil, our Director of Medical Services, said: “It’s important that there is robust strategic planning and funding for Veterans’ mental health services. We are working with our partners at the NHS and MoD to achieve this, and we look to the Government to confirm its commitment to mental health support for Veterans.”

We marked Remembrance Day at The Tower of London (see photograph, above left) and at each of our three treatment centres.

In December we wrapped up the year reaching out to Veterans who find the season a bit overwhelming. Our message of meditating, relaxing, being mindful, eating well and seeking support when needed, reminded Veterans that they are never alone with our 24-hour Helpline on hand to offer support and guidance: 0800 138 1619.

During this election year, we look forward to bringing you news marking the 70th anniversaries of Victory in Europe and Victory in Japan and other significant events. We will also continue to bring you news of many more activities included in the Events 2015 leaflet enclosed with your newsletter.

“We have much work to do in the coming years to meet the needs of Veterans” WWW.COMBATSTRESS.ORG.UK

Fundraising

Our supporters continue to amaze us with inventive and challenging ways to raise funds

Thank you!

Racing for Combat Stress at Wincanton Race Day

Combat Stress is thrilled to have generous supporters and donors who together raised half of our income last year. It goes without saying that we couldn’t care for the Veterans who need us without you. We are therefore enormously grateful to everyone who supports us, especially our fantastic volunteers who seem to have no bounds to their creativity, energy and enthusiasm. Here we highlight just some of our great events in 2014. This bedrock of support gives us confidence that we can continue to provide Veterans with our expert and specialist care they so clearly deserve to help heal their psychological wounds.

Heroes at Highclere

The Combat Stress Team sold merchandise at Wincanton Race Day

This year’s event commemorated the outbreak of WWI and celebrated reconciliation with a display of German biplanes zooming overhead and vintage German and British military vehicles firmly on the ground.

Combat Stress had a stall in the castle grounds with information about our work and our fantastic branded goodies (see page 2) for sale.

Guests also enjoyed watching singer Alexandra Burke perform, and browsing the food stalls as well as children’s amusements.

Special thanks go to Candice Bauval and the events team of the Castle who helped ensure a fantastic day for everyone. A total of £22,470 was raised, which included £10,000 from the Blavatnik Family Foundation and £500 each from SAP and Golden Bottle.

£55 pays for one

hour of Art Therapy for five Veterans

Highclere Castle: the setting for Downton Abbey and an event supporting Combat Stress

The Heroes at Highclere event in August enjoyed fantastic weather, a huge crowd and plenty of entertainment, all at the invitation of their Graces the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon. Highclere Castle may be familiar to readers as the setting for TV series Downton Abbey, where it is home to the fictional Grantham family.

“Highclere Castle may be familiar to readers as the setting for the TV series Downton Abbey ”

Worshipful Company of Girdlers and Texel Finance, who gave £1,300 and £3,000 respectively.

We are most grateful to the event organiser Andrew Johnston, to Nigel Salisbury and to everyone on the Wincanton Charity Race Day Committee for their tireless efforts on our behalf.

Poppies at the Tower Combat Stress and five other Armed Forces charities will each receive more than £1 million from the sale of the poppies, which were snapped up before the installation was complete. We are grateful to our many supporters who were among the 21,688 people who volunteered to ‘plant’ the poppies in the moat.

Combat Stress held events at the start and finish of the installation and gained valuable media coverage through TV and radio interviews with Veterans, and during the televised Remembrance service.

Our heartfelt thanks goes to Historic Royal Palaces for hosting the installation, to its creator Paul Cummins and to General the Lord Dannatt, Constable of the Tower, and his team.

Wincanton Race Day In October, 450 people gathered for Wincanton Charity Race Day to help raise a splendid £50,000 through a silent auction, a racecourse canter day, the sale of tables in the premier marquee and donations from The

Behind the cameras at Poppies at the Tower

We are grateful to everyone who has given up their time and energy to fundraise on our behalf, and to everyone who has donated. Your stories and commitment are spectacular and we thank every one of you.

WWW.COMBATSTRESS.ORG.UK

SPRING 2015 | COMBAT STRESS | 15

FUNDRAISING The Run 2 Recovery Team started their challenge at Tyrwhitt House

Runaway successes Huge thanks to our runners who took on a variety of races to raise vital funds Best of British The British 10km London Run in July featured 85 Combat Stress runners in total – including our very own staff team and another from our corporate sponsors Sleeping Giant Media – who raised over £15,000.

with weighted backpacks) from Avebury Stones to Stonehenge in the 24 Mile Team Tab in August to raise £1,120.

Rad runners Great North Runners Fifteen plucky runners joined the Great North Run in September and together raised over £4,300.

On the starting line of the Farnham Pilgrim Marathon

Welsh wonders The Cardiff Half Marathon took place on Sunday 5 October 2014. We had 13 runners enter and together they raised £3,126.

Stretching themselves The Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon in October raised over £22,500 from 55 runners in total, including a team of 12 from J-Troop, 31 Signal Squadron based in Coulsdon, Surrey, a mixed Regular and Reserve Army unit. Led by Staff Sergeant Mick Lawrence, they carried

a weighted metal stretcher between them the full length of the 13.1-mile course!

Pilgrim’s progress We were the main benefi ciaries of The Rotary Club of Farnham Weyside’s annual Farnham Pilgrim Marathon and Half Marathon in September.

Following part of the historic Pilgrim’s Way and the North Downs Way in the beautiful Surrey countryside, the event raised almost £7,000 to support our work.

Running for Combat Stress at the Royal Parks Half Marathon

distance between all three of our treatment centres in just 10 days, they raised over £5,200 in honour of a comrade who took his own life.

Rolling stones Ridgeway, a 5,000 year-old footpath from the Chilterns in Oxfordshire to Aylesbury in the North Wessex Downs, takes participants in Race to the Stones on a gruelling 100km run.

Steve Bland accepted the challenge and raised over £2,400 for us.

Run 2 Recovery

Avebury to Stonehenge

In August, Royal Engineers WO2 Danny Hirst and Captain Josh Conway, along with a support team of five, embarked on Run 2 Recovery.

Covering 424 miles to travel the

Led by Scarlett Geering, a team of 25 from the Young Officers Branch of the Royal Artillery ‘tabbed’ (marched

Organised by Sergeant Richard Grice in September, a team of eight serving soldiers stationed in the Falkland Islands ran for 24 hours non-stop on a treadmill, covering 240km – or the width of the Falkland Islands – in the Rad Run and raised over £1,000 between them.

Running a personal best Rio Talbot took on the Run Wales 10km in north Wales to raise over £1,500 and achieved a personal best!

Rio Talbot took on the Run Wales 10km

“Royal Engineer runners raised over £5,200 in honour of a comrade”

We are grateful to everyone who has given up their time and energy to fundraise on our behalf, and to everyone who has donated. Your stories and commitment are spectacular and we thank every one of you.

16 | COMBAT STRESS | SPRING 2015

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£125

A wealth of talents

pays for an hour with a psychiatrist

From screwball rallies to poetry evenings, our fundraisers are never short of ideas Royal recognition Thanks to Councillor Paul Buckley (ret’d RN) and Mrs Jackie Buckley for the Mayor and Mayoress of Havant Appeal. A year of fundraising amounted to £5,000 for Combat Stress and included a special day at the Council Offices attended by The Princess Royal.

Monday Club The Monday Club, a Kuwaitbased British business group, hosted a fundraiser in the British Embassy garden for five charities, with Combat Stress receiving £6,737.

Ben Kane (left) trekked while dressed as a Roman solider

and Ewell Silver Band, raised £520 for Combat Stress.

Charity of the Year The Lullingstone Lodge No. 1837 chose us as their Charity of the Year and raised £1,500 through a variety of events.

Bookham Brunch

Roman around

The Rotary Club of Bookham and Horsley held a ‘Bookham Brunch’ for 130 guests, who enjoyed a continental-themed meal and raised £1,000.

Ben Kane, Anthony Riches and Russell Whitfield tramped from Capua to the Forum in Rome dressed as Roman soldiers to raise over £20,000 for Combat Stress and Médecins Sans Frontières.

Commemorative concert Mike Chappell organised We Will Remember Them, a concert commemorating the centenary of the start of WWI, with the help of pupils from Brecon High School and Cadets from Merthyr Tydfil 415 ATC Squadron, raising £1,628.

Project Longstride Tim Shapland, a former Reservist, organised Project Longstride – sponsored walks totalling over 100 miles covering UK military training sites – and raised over £21,544.

Epsom in Harmony

Order of St Lazarus

Five local choirs joined forces for Epsom in Harmony – an evening of song and poetry in September. The Epsom Male Voice Choir, Epsom Choral Society, Soundbytes, Ewell Ladies, The Downsmen and Rosebery School Girls’ Choir, alongside the Epsom

The Order of St Lazarus in Scotland raised £648 at their dinner in Trinity Hall Aberdeen in October last year.

Guests of the Rotary Club of Bookham and Horsley enjoyed the Bookham Brunch

Pedals Challenge. They were scuppered by bureaucracy en route, but they did make it to San Francisco, raising £7,500.

Thank you, Nationwide

Winter Fair fundraising

Not-so dog-tired

Bim Cooper’s Winter Fair at Hexton Manor featured a ‘Day of Wine and Luxury Shopping’ with artisan crafts, gifts and a raffle, raising almost £5,000.

Jeff and Michelle Pepper, Sharon Cook and Flo the Labrador, the Dog Tired Team, completed the Thames Path Challenge, raising more than £2,000.

Feltmakers’ challenge Gallery reception

Major Jollyon Coombs and Master Feltmaker Simon Bartley rowed and hiked across the Great Glen in Scotland in the ‘Feltmakers’ Great Glen Challenge’, with Major Coombs making his own boat! Together they raised £5,000.

Attended by Combat Stress staff, Scottish Committee members and supporters of the Kelvingrove Art Gallery in Glasgow hosted a reception to recognise Veterans’ art in September.

Annual fete Horseback heroes In memory of the late Colonel Clive Fairweather, Ed Swales (ex-Captain of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers), Harry Chrisp, John Cresswell, and Tim Smalley rode on horseback 130 miles over eight days – the length of the English-Scottish border – raising over £4,000.

Rhona and Sandy Gibson held the Thornton Estate Nursing Home Annual Fete and presented us with a fantastic cheque for £3,000.

Art auction Artist Peter Howson designed the Scottish First Minister’s 2013 Christmas card. When auctioned at Oran Mor, Glasgow, ‘Artaban’ raised £16,000 for Combat Stress and three other charities.

Screwball Rally

Ten Million Pedals Ed Straker and Thomas Benson started cycling in South America, aiming for Alaska in their Ten Million

Nationwide Building Society Ayr office staff chose us as their charity and raised £751.

Jeff Pepper and the Dog Tired Team

Bella’s Boys on the Run – better known as Mick Holt, Stevie Dorans and brothers Andy and John Maitland from Ayr, plus an old Volvo called Bella – participated in this year’s Screwball Rally across Europe, raising over £1,000.

If you would like to support Combat Stress call us on 01372 587 140 or email fundraising@combatstress.org.uk WWW.COMBATSTRESS.ORG.UK

SPRING 2015 | COMBAT STRESS | 17

SUPPORT ORGANISATIONS

Perfect partnerships Working in partnership with other organisations means we are able to extend our reach and the services we offer Veterans

BUILDING STRONG LINKS WITH PARTNERS AND SPONSORS

Our presence in 'pop in' centres offers support in central locations

‘pop in’ partnerships offer help on the high street COMBAT STRESS participation in Royal British Legion’s ‘pop in’ centres has been an instant success since our partnership started in 2014, and we are continuing to build on this. We are now making excellent use of the centres to provide a wide range of services in local communities. From initial Veterans’ assessments with Regional Welfare Offi cers, monthly group sessions and weekly clinics, to meetings with partner charities and

service providers to ensure effective service delivery – we’re taking full advantage of the high street presence. We aim to reach out to Veterans wherever they are, and get the message to friends and family that help is at hand. Friendly, central locations are a great hub from which to offer that help and get someone started on their journey to recovery.

To fi nd out more: 0808 802 8080 www.britishlegion.org.uk/aboutus/the-legion-near-you

We are sincerely grateful to all our supporters, including the following:

THANKS TO OUR partners and sponsors, Combat Stress continues to help an increasing number of Veterans. We are widely respected as the leading charity delivering mental health services to ex-Service personnel. To meet this growing demand, we must maximise our own capabilities and ensure that we forge strategic and funding partnerships wherever we can.

For many years we’ve built strong links with organisations that help fund our work and provide services in partnership with us. These collaborations include the government, the NHS, and a wide range of charities and other organisations. With much gratitude, we acknowledge the support we receive from Service charities, without whose help the needs of Veterans suffering from PTSD couldn’t be met. We also express our sincere thanks to those foundations, companies and trusts that generously support our work.

Armed Forces Covenant

If you would like to support Combat Stress call us on 01372 587 140 or email support@combatstress.org.uk 18 | COMBAT STRESS | SPRING 2015

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A REASON TO GIVE

Giving a gift to a Veteran is as easy as 1-2-3…

1.

Call us to use your credit card or set up a monthly Direct Debit: 01372 587 151

2. Donate online: www.combatstress.org.uk/donate Inspired by her brother, Andi Osborne has taken part in a number of sponsored runs for Combat Stress

Running in memory THE CAREER of Lt Cdr Andrew Stillwell-Cox reads like a Boys’ Own adventure. He joined the Navy at 15 as a trainee on HMS Ganges, and went on to become a Lieutenant Commander, second in command of the Culdrose helicopter base in Cornwall. But tragically, the effects of PTSD and depression beat the Falklands War Veteran, and he took his own life.

Back in 1982, 14 of Andrew’s crew on HMS Glamorgan were killed in a missile strike. After he left the services, he claimed to be ‘fine’. “He was never at ease in civilian life,” says his sister, Andi Osborne. “Like many ex-Service people he was very proud and would never have asked for help.”

“Andrew was very proud and would never have asked for help” Now his family are turning their tragedy into a chance to raise much-needed funds to support our work. Andi has raised over £2,200 for Combat Stress through several sponsored runs. In 2013 she took on the Bungay Marathon, and last year she took part in events including the London Marathon and Brathay Windermere Marathon. She is also planning to organise her own 5km run in West Beckham, Norfolk, in honour of her brother, and will be running the 24hour Spitfire Scramble later this year. Andi also hopes to join the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in 2016.

Her parents, Tony and Margaret Stillwell-Cox, are helping too, attracting sponsorship for Andi and holding their own events, recently raising £320 with a raffle and cake sale. “They read the Combat Stress literature I gave them and then sent for their own,” says Andi. “Whoever spoke to them was very kind and made them realise that Andrew’s choice to end his life was not shameful. They are now very proud advocates for Combat Stress.”

It is thanks to the wonderful efforts of supporters like Andi and her parents that we can continue to support Veterans with mental ill-health and raise awareness of the help that’s on offer – help that we know can save lives.

3. Send us a cheque or credit card donation: FREEPOST RTKB-SYUY-CZYR Tyrwhitt House, Oaklawn Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 0BX Full name Home address

Postcode Email Please tick this box if you’re happy to receive emails from Combat Stress I wish to help Combat Stress provide care and support to ex-Service men and women so that they can cope with their trauma and reclaim their lives.

• Our Community and Outreach Teams help Veterans at home and in the community.

• Our three treatment centres provide both residential treatment and outpatient facilities.

PLEASE FIND ENCLOSED MY DONATION OF £ I enclose a cheque / postal order / CAF voucher made payable to Combat Stress.

OR please debit my: credit / debit / CAF card (delete as appropriate)

CARD NO: EXPIRY DATE: (mm/yy)

START DATE: (mm/yy)

SECURITY CODE: (last 3 digits of the number on the signature strip) ISSUE NO:

SIGNATURE:

CARDHOLDER’S NAME: Please tick this box if you would like to receive a thank you letter.

SPNL15

GIFT AID DECLARATION Please tick this box if you are not a UK Tax Payer Please treat as Gift Aid donations all qualifying gifts of money made

I confirm I have paid or will pay an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax for each tax year (6 April to 5 April) that is at least equal to the amount of tax that all the charities or Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) that I donate to will reclaim on my gifts for that tax year. I understand that other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify. I understand the charity will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 that I give on or after 01 April 2010.

Please notify the charity or CASC if you: • Want to cancel this declaration.

• Change your name or home address.

• No longer pay sufficient tax on your income and/or capital gains.

If you pay Income Tax at the higher or additional rate and want to receive the additional tax relief due to you, you must include all your Gift Aid donations on your Self Assessment tax return or ask HM Revenue and Customs to adjust your tax code.

You may also make the declaration by telephone, by fax or by email to the numbers below, in which case confirmation of the arrangement will be sent to you. The declaration will be held on file by the charity for its own fundraising purposes only.

Telephone 01372 587 153; fax 01372 587 141 or email rachel.kulsdom@combatstress.org.uk Combat Stress, Tyrwhitt House, Oaklawn Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 0BX Registered Charity Number (England & Wales) 206002; (Scotland) SC038828 Company limited by guarantee: Registration Number 256353

The Numbers Count

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Sudoku competition Three lucky supporters of Combat Stress will win one of our zip hoodies in our Sudoku prize draw. To enter the competition, complete the Sudoku on the right and send your completed entry to: The Marketing Officer, Combat Stress, Oaklawn Road, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 0BX

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Name: Address: Tel: Email:

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Please tick this box if you are happy to receive emails from Combat Stress Terms and Conditions: this prize draw is free to enter. Not open to staff of Combat Stress. The draw will take place on Friday, 27 February 2015 and winning participants will be contacted soon afterwards to arrange delivery of the prize.

If you would like to support Combat Stress call us on 01372 587 140 or email support@combatstress.org.uk