Mental health project helps war-scarred veterans (From Herald Series)

Mental health project helps war-scarred veterans

7:00am Friday 3rd February 2012 in News By Amanda Williams

A FORMER solider has welcomed the arrival in Oxford of a mental health project that “saved his life”.

Combat Stress, a charity which helps tackle mental illness in former servicemen and women, now operates at the Warneford Mental Hospital, in Headington, and Neil Littlewood hopes it will help others after his experience suffering post traumatic stress disorder.

After he left the Army, which included service in Iraq with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Mr Littlewood’s life became a nightmare mix of suicidal thoughts, flashbacks and fits of rage.

PTSD is a severe anxiety condition which can develop after exposure to traumatic events and is common among ex-servicemen.

The married father-of-two witnessed three of his friends being killed by a roadside bomb.

The former corporal said he hit rock bottom in 2005 when he was medically discharged after being injured by a brick thrown by a baying Iraqi mob of 400.

Mr Littlewood, who lives in Abingdon, said: “I still have the occasional flashback and get depressed, but if it wasn’t for Combat Stress, I would either be in prison or I’d be dead. Simple as that.”

Graham Poulter, a community psychiatric nurse with Combat Stress, said: “We are excited to have found a venue for the veterans, so they can now get support from fellow veterans, our practitioners, and our NHS colleagues.”

The first drop-in session took place last week, with further sessions scheduled to take place on the last Monday of each month at the Warneford.

The hospital is run by the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.

Martina Mueller, a clinical psychologist with the trust, said it was delighted to collaborate with Combat Stress on the project.

She added: “In the last 10 years, I have seen a substantial increase in referrals from veterans.

“This has been because of greater awareness of the treatments that are available and also as a result of the rising numbers of those coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan.”

If you would like to find out more about these sessions, go to combatstress.org.uk or contact Neil Cottrell, Welfare Desk Officer at Combat Stress’ South Central Welfare Desk at Tyrwhitt House, on 01372 587085.