John Baron MP presses Secretary of State for Defence over veterans’ mental health issues

MP stresses need for more help

Yesterday in a Defence debate in the House of Commons, John Baron MP questioned the Secretary of State for Defence as to whether enough was being done to help veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Last month the Centre for Suicide Prevention at Manchester University found that veterans are at an increased risk of suicide.

John said:

“Various studies have shown that veterans are at an increased risk of suicide. What is the Government doing to help the rising number of cases of PTSD resulting from recent operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan? The Royal British Legion certainly believes that not enough is being done to reach out to these veterans.”

The Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon Bob Ainsworth MP, assured the House of Commons that the Government was doing enough.

John said afterwards:

“The Royal British Legion has found that at least 70% of GPs know nothing about the availability of military mental health programmes. More needs to be done by the Government to assist those veterans who need help.”