The Need
This section provides a very brief overview of the evidence of need for improved veteran services
Armed Forces Personnel
There are currently around 200,000 regular serving personnel in the armed forces (HMF), 100,000 of whom are in the Army and 50,000 each in the Royal Navy and RAF. There are around 35,000 personnel in the reserve forces, a significant proportion of whom since 2003, have been deployed on active service alongside the regular forces (DASA, Defence Analytical Statistics and Advice). However, it needs to be recognised that the make-up of HMF is complex and heterogeneous, with a diverse range of battalions, regiments and specialist forces.
The Army has a strong presence in the Lothians area with two barracks, one at Dreghorn in Edinburgh and another at Glencorse in Penicuick, Midlothian. Additionally, The Royal Regiment 6th Battalion, a Territorial Light Role Infantry Battalion recruits from all over the lowlands with TA Centres in Edinburgh, Bathgate, Galashiels, Ayr, Glasgow and Motherwell (The Royal Regiment in Scotland).
The latest MoD statistics (2009) show a rise of 2,190 recruits in 2008-9, compared with the previous 12 months. Across all the armed services, Britain is now running at 96.8% of its full-time trained strength requirement. The rise in Scotland, in particular recruitment to the Royal Regiment of Scotland is expected to be up by 5%, the Regiment is now running close to its 2,935 capacity, at 2,506 soldiers strong.
Psychological Health and Wellbeing Issues
Recent MoD statistics reveal nearly 7000 new attendances at MoD Departments of Community Mental Health Services (MHS) between January 2007 and March 2008. Of those, nearly 5000 were assessed as having a mental disorder. In a study of 659 new patients seen between 1st January and 31st March 2008 who had been deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan since October 2005, 489 were assessed by the MoD as having a mental disorder, the majority of which had served in Iraq. The report also states that the rate of neurotic disorders was higher in those who had deployed to the Iraq or Afghanistan theatres of operation than in those who had not deployed there.
However these figures may not provide the full picture in relation to the level combat trauma/stress issues affecting military personnel. Greenberg et al’s (2003) investigation into who military personnel spoke with about their experiences on return from combat, suggests that military personnel were reluctant to speak formally with Medical services and or present themselves with combat trauma/stress issues. The findings also suggest that in the vast majority of cases (98%) personnel would discuss their experiences and issues informally with colleagues/peers, and less than 10% were willing to discuss issues in a more formal way, through their chain of command, mental services or welfare services
Veteran Issues
Unfortunately, no accurate figures are kept on the number of ex-service personnel treated for mental health problems. The MoD does not monitor veterans once they leave, nor does the NHS routinely ask if people have been in the forces. It is estimated that 20,000 personnel leave the regular forces each year, with about 1,600 medical discharges, of which about 150 are due to mental health problems. However it is not known how many leave HMF with an unrecognised mental health problem (Improving Access to Psychological Services (iapt) (2009) Veterans Positive Practice Guide). .... more
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