A VETERAN who has suffered from PTSD, anxiety and depression said he has had to sell his home in order to afford private care and to be seen by a psychologist, because of the lack of help available through the NHS.

Stephen, who lives in Bournemouth, joined the forces as a rifleman when he was 16 years old and spent two and half years in Northern Ireland, which he says he never got closure from.

He has had three suicide attempts since 2010 and says he has suicidal thoughts every day but, thanks to coaching form his psychologist, he has learnt to overcome them.

“The Dorset Mental Health system is shocking; all of the services are either fully booked or not advertised well enough to people who need it.

“I have lost count of the amount of times I have approached them and said that I am suicidal and need help for it to fall on deaf ears.

“I have had a great career and enjoyed my time in the forces but, because of the lack of help with regards to mental health, it has cost me everything.

“I feel like I have become a burden to the taxpayer which I never wanted to be. Because of the lack of support, what would have cost the taxpayer around £10,000 has ended up costing them a fortune.”

This comes three weeks after former rifleman Jamie Davis, 30, was found dead in Totton, having previously suffered from PTSD and night terrors from his time in the forces.

As previously reported, Jamie’s wife Alicia said the lack of intervention from the army added to the exhausted services and month-long waiting lists through NHS facilities contributed to his death.

Stephen stressed the importance of a list of local contacts that can help ex-servicemen in the form of a welfare package to be given to those leaving the services, even if they don’t show obvious signs of trauma or stress.

Talking about Jamie’s plight, Stephen said: “I have been in his situation.

“He was probably wondering who he could turn to, that is why I think a welfare package when you leave would be the best thing. He would have had the information and the contacts of who to speak to.”

“The sad thing is people in the armed forces are trained to put on an act, to hide their emotions and carry on.

“It is like a duck on water, on the surface you look calm but, on the bottom, you are kicking like mad to keep going forward.”

Outside of private healthcare, Stephen has also benefitted from the support of SSAFA, the armed forces charity, and their Woodland Wellbeing Project held at Holden Lee near Poole.

The sessions involve ex-servicemen coming along being creative by whittling wood and cooking on campfires, but also talk “shoot the breeze” with stories from their time in the military or anything they want to talk about.

Stephen said the type of banter he is able to have with other veterans really helps with his mental health issues and that the service “can’t be undervalued”.

The 50-year-old added: “I missed the first two because of my anxiety but plucking up the courage to go to my first meeting was probably the best thing I have ever done. It truly does help.

“When you share stories of your time in the forces, you don’t feel sorry for each other, but you think that someone is worse off than you. It’s that empathy, even though you yourself are in a bad situation, it goes around in a continuous circle.

“My mental health has cost me my house, my friends and my family but attending these sessions, it feels like a second family to me because you are all going through similar things and you have people there who will listen to you and support you.”

“My advice to people would be to contact them. I know that may be more difficult than it sounds, because it took me a lot of courage to make that contact with someone, but just making that initial step can make all the difference.

“That is the hardest thing to do but also the most worthwhile and beneficial thing you can do if you are in that mental state.”

The next Woodland Wellbeing Project will be held on Monday February 17.

The Dorset branch of SSAFA are also looking to host their first walk for veterans who are struggling with PTSD, Anxiety, Depression on Saturday February 8 at St Catherines Hill in Christchurch.

The group will meet at 9:55am at the car park in Marlow Drive near the No 1 South Africa shop and aim to set off at 10am.

Bob Perry, Dorset caseworker for SSAFA said: “Remember guys, you are not alone, and we want to help you, so come along for some fresh air and most importantly some Military comradeship and the inevitable banter.”

To find out more, contact Bob Perry on 07785275150.