The National Assembly for Wales Health, Wellbeing and Local Government Committee has today published a report on post-traumatic stress disorder treatment (PTSD) for services veterans.
The report makes a number of recommendations, identifying a need for:
· improved data collection on the incidence of PTSD
· raised awareness of PTSD for veterans and families
· support for Welsh prisoners who are veterans suffering from PTSD to receive the full benefits of the new specialist veterans mental health service
· more funding for voluntary ‘veterans supporting veterans’ groups
· training for primary care staff in the symptoms and treatment of PTSD
· better communication between Ministry of Defence and GPs.
Bill Walden-Jones, Chief Executive of Welsh service-user-led mental health charity Hafal, said:
“We welcome the report from the Wellbeing and Local Government Committee as a positive step forward in identifying issues facing ex-service people with a mental illness in Wales. It is encouraging to see that the Assembly Government engaged positively with the inquiry in the evidence it provided.
“But Hafal’s Members believe that the pastoral duty of the Ministry of Defence should extend beyond the service period. After all, these people have served their country and they deserve to receive care and support even after they leave the armed forces. This is especially a priority for people with a serious mental illness who may need hospitalisation, and for those who enter the criminal justice system due to their mental illness.
“Many of Hafal’s Members, clients and staff are ex-service people. We are very familiar with the difficulties facing ex-service people with a mental illness and we will continue to maintain and develop our service for this vulnerable group.”
To read the Wellbeing and Local Government Committee report go to: http://www.assemblywales.org/bus-home/bus-committees/bus-committees-scrutiny-committees/bus-committees-third-hwlg-home.htm