The popularity of the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has increased our awareness of the mental health difficulties experienced by some ex-service personnel. Roy Brook, a retired British Army Major, chronicles his experiences as a welfare officer of the Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society, also known as Combat Stress. Over the past 80 years this charitable organisation has attempted to help ex-service personnel with mental health difficulties through welfare officer visits, assistance with war pensions and other benefit claims and also brief residential stays at the society's three residential nursing homes in Scotland, Kent and Shropshire.
The book provides a good history of the acceptance or lack of acceptance of psychiatric reactions and disorders in service personnel and then considers psychiatric injury as a result of the major conflicts of the 20th century, from the First World War to Bosnia. Other mental health difficulties such as schizophrenia and organic brain syndromes are mentioned in addition to PTSD. Some of the numerous case histories are very interesting but the quantity does not make for easy reading. As one might expect, the book is very pro the Combat Stress organisation and its effectiveness.
The book is likely to be most useful to ex-service personnel and their families, particularly those who have experienced mental health difficulties as a result of their service experience. Mental health professionals may gain some improved knowledge of the management options available for ex-service personnel, the range of specific benefits they may be entitled to and most importantly the existence of Combat Stress, which has undoubtedly been appreciated by many individuals. In my opinion any ex-serviceman or -woman with significant mental health difficulties should be given the organisation's contact details (tel: 01372 841600).
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