Veterans In Prison contacts
Alistair Renwick
Basement ground floor flat
11 Sterndale Road
London W14 OHT
Tracey Johnson
No 18 Paseo de la Rambla, 11 Bajo, 04639 Turre, Almeria, Spain
telephone 0034 634352210
At present the Survival Guide is being published, therefore not available to buy at the moment. please contact above addresses for any other information.
Veterans in prison
Tuesday, 05 January 2010 09:44 “Cheated of justice because of combat experiences fighting for justice” Veterans In Prison (VIP) was founded by ex-soldiers because of the shockingly high numbers of veteran soldiers in the prison population.VIP and some psychiatrists, are convinced that the majority of these ex-soldiers are unknowingly suffering from the effects of combat related psychological disorders, unless treated it will change their whole psychological universe on their return home to peacetime surroundings after serving in wars/conflicts. A very high price is being paid by these troops/veterans for being psychologically injured in their Service to the country. Scandalously they have been dumped inside the prison system and left to cope with these disorders alone, and neither has there been any investigation or debate by MP’s into why there are such high numbers of veteran soldiers in the prison population (a much higher percentage rate than any other profession in the entire prison system). VIP believe that this hidden mountain of ex-soldiers, is being deliberately kept secret from the public at large by government run departments such as the Criminal Justice System and the Home Office. This website will prove that this government, who keeps stressing and exploiting new dangers of terrorist threats against the British people by Al-Qaeda or Muslim extremists, are in truth doing more damage to their own troops/veterans (and their families) than any terrorists organisation could ever hope to achieve. Last Updated on Sunday, 14 February 2010 20:37
‘KANGAROO JUSTICE’
The British Prime Minister Mr David Cameron’s state visit to China in November 2010 – received much criticism from Human Rights groups and gave Mr Cameron a lot of bad press for not openly raising the issues of China’s appalling human rights record during his visit.
Kate Allen the UK Director of Amnesty International said “it is unbelievable that the UK Government will put trade before human rights. Chinese human rights abuses include torture, forced labour, unfair trials and the death penalty”.
VIP say if Mr Cameron ever did get round to bringing up the subject of human rights with the Chinese leaders (especially the part about unfair trials) the Prime Ministers hands would have been tied – in fact he would have had to speak to the Chinese leasers with tongue in cheek on this topic because the British Justice system is also covering up an appalling track record of unfair trials?
The clue was in the poppy the Prime Minister was wearing throughout his visit to China – the Poppy symbolises Britain’s remembrance and eternal thanks to its Service personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice fighting for their country during wars/conflicts. However the huge irony is that nowadays the Poppy is produced in Britain’s prisons where it could have been assembled by a veteran ex-soldier – one of the thousands of veteran ex-soldiers in the prison population who has probably never had the decency of a ‘fair and just’ trial because of being psychologically wounded fighting in wars/conflicts and unknowingly suffering combat related PTSD!
It was in 1987 when VIP first became aware of the large numbers of ex-soldiers in the prison population and realised that something was seriously wrong with these unusual circumstances – eventually we made the connection that most of these troops/veterans had served in wars/conflicts during their service and through our contacts with the American Vietnam veterans we realised that the problem was related to combat related PTSD. The Vietnam Veterans had the exact same problems years ago on their return from the war in Vietnam with disproportionate numbers of veterans ending up in their prison population – until 1980 when combat related PTSD was identified and things started to change in their Justice system. Unfortunately in the UK (for political reasons) Politicians and Officials tend to sweep things under the carpet rather than admit and deal with a problem – for years VIP have hounded past and present Governments including the Ministry of Defence – telling them that these troops/veterans in the prison population are only a small part of a bigger picture of ‘Alcoholism, Divorce, Homelessness, Prison and Suicide’ concerning troops/veterans unknowingly suffering combat related PTSD after their service in wars/conflicts.
In spite of all those characteristic indications of troops/veterans suffering this mental disorder VIP concentrated on the extraordinary numbers of ex-soldiers in the prison population that we could actually see with our own eyes – and became relentless in a quest to inform Politicians and the general public about this ongoing disaster and penned numerous letters to government Ministers. But like Politicians have been doing for the past 600 years they simply dodged the issue and answered our letters with spin – they didn’t want to know about the Justice system missing a major factor or the vital evidence of mitigating circumstances of combat related PTSD being overlooked at troops/veterans trials. VIP actually began to think that perhaps Government Ministers were opportunely using the law for their own convenience – well let’s face it the Justice system was inadvertently covering up unseen, excessive and embarrassing casualty figures of wars/conflicts which Governments didn’t want the public to know about? Anyhow it is now no big secret that since VIP’s survey of the prison population in 2008 and we let the Genie of these hidden numbers of troops/veterans in the prison population out of the bottle – that political opposition parties and the public began to realise that something connected to these high numbers of ex-soldiers in the prison population and their military service was seriously wrong?
Therefore to put this ongoing tragedy into some sort of perspective and the seriousness in the way that this mental disorder has progressed and come about in destroying troops/veterans (their families) and victims lives over the years – VIP can accurately pinpoint the rise in the numbers of ex-soldiers in the prison population to shortly after troops were first committed into the conflict of Northern Ireland in 1969. Subsequently and as a result of a never ending cycle of wars/conflicts for British troops thereafter (over 40 years) – the number of ex-soldiers in the prison population has steadily risen to at least 10 times higher than that of any other profession in the whole prison system.
So VIP welcomed the news when the MoD and the Department of Health announced that they are going to move forward with recommendations from a Government report which had recently looked into the state of Britain’s military mental health. The report ‘Fighting Fit’ was produced for the Coalition Government by former Royal Navy doctor Andrew Murrison MP – and for the first time ever a statement in the report actually mentioned and acknowledged; ‘that there is a problem between troops/veterans mental health issues and prison’!
Quote: Mental illness is a root cause of both homelessness and involvement in the Criminal Justice system. It is probable that veterans are either over-represented or more likely to have mental problems in the two groups.
At long last a Government report has been produced which actually confirms what VIP have been shouting about for years – confirming that the excessive numbers of troops/veterans in the prison population are linked to troops/veterans (unknowingly) suffering mental health problems. VIP do not know how the Fighting Fit report came about their findings but almost certainly the main culprit of these psychological problems will be combat related PTSD – or is the Government report saying British troops/veterans are not sane before they enlist in the Army (although issuing ‘non compos mentis’ people with weapons of destruction is not only absurd – but totally insane)?
Accordingly the meaning and consequences of the Fighting Fit report’s message are enormous especially for the Criminal Justice system and the Judiciary – with the Government report admitting that there is a connection between mental illness and prison it now brings into play the other part of the equation such as; ‘How many thousands of troops/veterans unknowingly suffering combat related PTSD have never had ‘fair and just’ trials over the past 4 decades’?
Fact: The psychiatric waffle put out about stigma deterring troops/veterans from admitting the problem of suffering combat related PTSD – is far from the real explanation. The reason is because the vast majority of troops/veterans ‘do not know or realise’ that they are suffering from this mental disorder because of the way it masks itself within the troops/veterans themselves – and also why psychiatrists, psychologists and therapists only get to know from these troops/veterans what they want to let them know. Sadly troops/veterans will unwittingly swim straight through all the safety nets including the TRiM programme (designed with double standards that are more advantages to the MoD than to the troops/veterans it is supposed to protect) – because other actors come into play and it is ignorance of combat related PTSD which is the root cause that prevents most troops/veterans from admitting they are suffering this mental disorder not stigma.
So what does it mean to be a veteran unknowingly psychologically wounded fighting for their Country in wars conflicts – then ending up inside the prison population serving a prison sentence? Scandalously for many troops/veterans it means not only have they been cheated out of the decency of being able to live normal productive lives with their families – but pitifully professional crooks have had more ‘fairer and just trials’ than the troops/veterans unknowingly suffering combat related PTSD. The bottom line is that the troops/veterans unknowingly suffering combat related PTSD in the prison population have been hoodwinked into having unfair trials – because pathetically the Criminal justice system failed to notice their mental illness from the very start when they were first taken into custody. Hence unless troops/veterans plus the Criminal Justice system are alerted and educated to how combat related PTSD really works – such as how easily and why this disorder will take control and destroy their lives without their knowledge. Then this charade of giving troops/veterans ‘fair and just’ trials will carry on no matter what rhetoric the Criminal Justice system or the Government come up with – for the simple reason that ‘if troops/veterans do not know’ they are suffering combat related PTSD when they are put on trial then they are not getting ‘fair and just’ trials!
For example: ‘Article Six of the European Human Rights Act’ states: ‘Everyone is entitled to a Fair and Just Trial’. However a classic example of how thousands of troops/veterans unknowingly suffering combat related PTSD have been bamboozled out of receiving ‘fair and just’ trials over the past 40 years – is clearly exposed in the criminal case of Mr Barry George (a civilian who was charged and found guilty of the murder of television presenter Miss Jill Dando)! To cut a long story short Mr George eventually had his conviction of Miss Dando’s murder judged unsafe by the Criminal Appeal Courts – and then had a retrial at the Old Bailey where he was acquitted of her murder. But throughout his retrial he had a female psychologist sitting in the dock beside him – which is not normal practice because as a rule a person charged or found guilty of a crime usually sits in the dock by themselves. Afterwards when the psychologist was asked ‘why’ she was allowed to sit in the dock with Mr George during his retrial she said: “it is believed that Mr George is suffering PTSD because of being falsely accused of the Jill Dando murder – and someone suffering PTSD will say anything”!
Incredibly those key words of “someone suffering PTSD will say anything” coming from a professional psychologist – ideally sums up and exposes what must be an appalling record number of nonexistent ‘fair and just’ trials for thousands of troops/veterans unknowingly suffering this mental disorder. Tragically there must have been countless numbers of troops/veterans processed through the Criminal Justice system over the past 4 decades without even being checked for combat related PTSD – shockingly the law has failed to protect them mainly because the Justice system couldn’t be bothered to look at the connection and the enormity of the high numbers of ex-soldiers appearing before their Courts. The Criminal Justice system has got no-one else to blame other than itself for this travesty of Justice – an antiquated Justice system that couldn’t be fussed to make any allowances or check whether troops/veterans who had served in wars/conflicts were unknowingly suffering combat related PTSD is not much of a Justice system in the first place.
Additionally the police must love this ‘will say anything’ syndrome when questioning troops/veterans taken into custody – seeing that first and foremost the police’s job is to consciously and dutifully question these troops/veterans to make their crimes look like open and shut cases of criminal guilt for the courts to prosecute. But surely the interrogation of someone unknowingly suffering a mental disorder by the law is not only farcical but illegal – since their defence stories will not be as black and white as the police and Crown Prosecution Service will make them seem to be at the time of their trials. Thus all troops/veterans who have served in wars/conflicts should be checked for combat related PTSD before being questioned by the police – this is the only way to ensure high risk troops/veterans who have served in wars/conflicts can be given any resemblance of a ‘fair and just’ trial?
Furthermore this ‘will say anything’ factor for troops/veterans unknowingly suffering combat related PTSD comes in a number of ways – a typical instance is how some troops/veterans can re-live flashbacks of former life threatening situations from their war/conflict experiences and not know they have done so. As for instance their involvement of a violent situation in a war/conflict and the only way to extract themselves out of this tight spot was to use extreme violence – although disastrously this violent encounter does not merely slip from their minds and is forgotten on their return home (it unknowingly becomes a problem solver hidden and etched in their minds – triggered in response to their being under pressure). As a result not only will this mental disorder have been an unseen motive for these troops/veterans crime – it will also have been a concealed trigger for their actions – abruptly disappearing from their minds before being questioned by the police. The flashback has vanished because their minds have been unconsciously ‘flipped in and flipped out’ of these past violent situations without any recall whatsoever – this quandary then leaves troops/veterans unknowingly suffering combat related PTSD and being quizzed by the police wide open for the full weight of the law to fall on them and the courts to hang then up to dry!
This is not the Justice for troops/veterans who have been psychologically wounded whilst laying their lives on the line for their Country in wars/conflicts as some are the best of the best – highly for gallantry and proof of their traumatic experiences but ridiculously even these were never checked for combat related PTSD by the Criminal Justice system. At the end of the day Justice has got to be seen to be done but this kind of Justice is more like a kangaroo style of justice – with the courts knowing only half of the facts and juries not knowing of any mental illness whatsoever is something the British public would expect from a third world country. The British Criminal justice system was once considered to be the best in western world –yet these high numbers of ex-soldiers in the prison population are testimony to it now being one of the worst justice systems!
We at VIP say: “if there is any justice the responsibility for these high numbers of troops/veterans in the prison population should be laid firmly at previous successive Government doors and their Justice Departments – as they were responsible for a legal process in which the rising numbers of ex-soldiers in the prison population prove that they were incapable of dispensing any likeness of Justice to troops/veterans unknowingly suffering combat related PTSD. To substantiate our allegations VIP suggest some independent body (newspaper or a TV programme) should examine the Criminal Justice systems records of trials and sentencing policy over the past 40 years – then look at how many troops/veterans have ever had combat related PTSD taken into consideration at the time of their trials? Appallingly when comparing these statistics to the very high numbers of troops/veterans who have actually been processed through the Criminal justice system – without doubt the results will make a mockery out of the words ‘justice and veterans’!
The Ministry of Justice may pass the buck and try to slink their way out of their responsibilities of giving troops/veterans a ‘fair and just’ trial by saying: ‘it is up to troops/veterans defence teams to inform the courts of their client’s mental conditions at the time of their trial.’
This is complete rubbish and incorrect as it should be the Ministry of Justices duty to recognise and protect troops/veterans who are unknowingly suffering combat related PTSD – if the judiciary wish to prosecute troops/veterans for crimes then the Criminal Justice system should have fail-safe procedures in place to recognise and protect the troops/veterans unknowingly suffering this mental disorder.
However the crucial question of whether the Fighting Fit recommendations will reduce the very high rates of ‘Alcoholism, Divorce, Homelessness, Prison and Suicide’ amongst troops/veterans unknowingly suffering combat related PTSD – the answer in a nutshell is ‘no’ the recommendations will have very little impact (if any) on these ongoing tragedies because the reports proposals are not targeting the troops/veterans who are unknowingly suffering this disorder and consequently they are being missed by a mile.
Unfortunately the down side of the reports recommendations are that they do not target the troops/veterans who need to be targeted – such as the vast majority ‘who do not know or realise’ that they are suffering from this devastating mental disorder. In fact the Fighting Fit report actually confirms how far the coalition Government has go to go in terms of tackling the problems of combat related PTSD – as there is nothing of any significance in the recommendations that will be of any help to the troops/veterans who ‘do not know’ they are suffering this mental disorder. Basically the recommendations are the same old hat procedures which have already been tried, tested and miserably failed by previous Governments – still what else do you expect from a report that goes back to the same so called authorities of PTSD – who could not see this catastrophe unfolding in front of them when it was staring them in the face. In actuality the adage ‘that history repeats itself if lessons aren’t learned’ is clearly highlighted with these Government experts prognosis of “If troops/veterans don’t know they are suffering combat related PTSD – then don’t tell them”!
Footnote: VIP have no doubts whatsoever (because we found the truth ourselves) that most of the high numbers of ex-soldiers in the prison population acknowledged in the Fighting Fit report to have mental health problems – stem from the greater part of them unknowingly suffering combat related PTSD at the time of their trials and ignorantly disregarded by the Criminal justice system. Thus for that reason not only are these troops/veterans getting the justice they fully deserve or combat related PTSD not being addressed whilst these troops/veterans are in the prison system – they are serving what must be described as illegal prison sentences under Article Six of the European Human Rights Act.
‘A Double Edged Rock’
On Monday 18th October 2010, the Chilean President Sebastian Pinera gave a piece of rock from the San Jose mine to the British Prime Minister Mr David Cameron – the rock sample was brought up from the bottom of the caved-in mine where 33 miners were trapped underground for 70 days and is a symbol of Chile’s ‘commitment, courage, faith, hope and unity’ at accomplishing the task of rescuing the trapped miners.
Isn’t it a pity that David Cameron hasn’t got the same commitment when it comes to dealing with the task of sorting out the mental health issues of our troops/veterans returning from wars/conflicts – as he promised to do when he became leader of the conservative party. But obviously with combat related PTSD being a hidden wound that can’t be seen like a physical one – its easy for politicians (when in power) to act as if the disorder is not happening on such a massive scale as they declared when they were in the Opposition party.
‘Ex-soldiers swell jails’
‘War veterans abandoned’
‘Haunted, in prison, now homeless’
‘Scandal of our abandoned war heroes’
Embarrassingly for this Conservative led Government there is no difference whatsoever in those newspaper headlines other than the first two articles were written under the Labour government’s term in office – and the other two come under this new Coalition Governments watch!
Actually the newspaper captions divulge a ‘groundhog day’ true picture of what’s happening to our troops/veterans no matter which political party is in power – and most certainly nothing has been done or changed in any constructive way to help the current veterans who are unknowingly suffering combat related PTSD by this present government. Shamefully those newspaper stories are not made-up myths but factual accounts and also confirmation that no matter what past or present leaders of British Governments say regarding the care and welfare of our troops/veterans it is all a load of baloney – thought up to conceal the fact that troops/veterans futures (who don’t know they are suffering this disorder) are unimportant to Politicians as the disastrous outcome is always the same for these troops/veterans (and their families)!
The proof is in the pudding with the present day Prime Minister Mr David Cameron’s choice of words – on the subject of the treatment of our troops/veterans when he took over the leadership of the Conservative Party he said: “We must do more for our Armed Forces” (he has since becoming leader of the Coalition Government sanctioned the training of more therapists for treating troops/veterans suffering combat related PTSD). The Defence Minister Dr Liam Fox announced at the Tory Party conference the Governments response to the ‘National Scandal’ of our troops/veterans and combat related PTSD – ‘A 24 hour helpline for troubled soldiers – and dedicated teams of nurses to treat troops/veterans’? Sorry to say but these promises are only cosmetic and will not be of any use whatsoever to the troops/veterans who are unknowingly suffering combat related PTSD – as in reality the government could train up another ‘hundred thousand’ new therapists but if the troops/veterans are unaware that they are suffering from this disorder then no-one is going anywhere or speaking to anyone! In fact these Politicians pledges would be on the same lines as the Chilean President telephoning a message down to the trapped miners saying: “Don’t worry we have dedicated medical teams waiting to treat you – once you have dug yourselves out of the collapsed pit”!
Unbelievably this Governments whole approach to combat related PTSD has become a complete ‘dogs dinner’ and more stupid than the previous Labour Governments brainless attempts at tackling this problem – particularly when you take into account that the vast majority of troops/veterans ‘do not know or realise’ that they are unknowingly suffering combat related PTSD. Therefore any rational thinking Government would have made the problem of troops/veterans who don’t know that they are suffering from combat related PTSD their top priority as this is the all important issue – and then have made certain that all troops/veterans (and their families) who have served in wars/conflicts would be able to identify this disorder ‘if or whenever’ the signs/symptoms begin to show themselves? But Mr Cameron and his Defence Minister are deliberately leaving out these crucial factors and coming up with cynical gimmicks such as saying the government is training up more therapists – which is an absolute classic case of putting the ‘cart before the horse’ and about as useful to troops/veterans who are unknowingly suffering from this disorder as this Government ordering two more aircraft carriers that cant fly any planes. Since how on earth do Messer’s Cameron and Fox expect these troops/veterans who don’t know they are suffering combat related PTSD – to ask for the help they vitally need when they genuinely believe they are not suffering from this disorder?
Example: “who would report sick with flu – if they did not feel ill or show any symptoms and likewise for troops/veterans as before they can ask for the treatment they require – they first have to be able to acknowledge that they themselves are (unknowingly) suffering from this disorder? If troops/veterans are unable to recognise this problem then no-one will step forward or ask for the help they require – this is also the crucial reason ‘why’ the VIP Survival Guide must be issued to all troops/veterans (and their families) on their return home from serving in wars/conflicts. The Survival guide will play a very important part in troops/veterans recovery and should be paramount as the first point of impact that troops/veterans (and their families) have to counter combat related PTSD – enabling them (or their families) to recognise what the disorder is all about by becoming aware of their own behaviour – and showing them (and their families) how and why’ they have been unable to fit back into our society at peace. In truth the Guide is like the escape shaft that was drilled down to the trapped Chilean miners – and is most essential to troops/veterans (and their families) plus the authorities (if the Government have any real intention of tackling this problem) to give our troops/veterans a return ticket back to a normal life. Otherwise this cycle of destruction of troops/veterans (and their families) lives will continue on their return home – simply because they will remain stuck under the veil of combat related PTSD.
Scandalously and without doubt there’s been a steady increase over the past 40 years of thousands of troops/veterans (and their families) becoming the innocent victims of combat related PTSD – yes, unbelievably this incredible saga of high rates of ‘Alcoholism, Divorce, homelessness, Prison and Suicide’ amongst troops/veterans has been steadily rising since British troops first became embroiled in the conflict of Northern Ireland in 1969. Suffice to say that the troops/veterans unknowingly suffering this disorder ‘do not willingly volunteer for these bleak and devastating futures’ – they develop them because of their illness due to their military service. Subsequently when adding all the other wars/conflicts which British troops/veterans have been constantly involved in during those four decades right up to the present day war in Afghanistan – it means that the UK has serious problems on a major scale with its troops/veterans unknowingly suffering combat related PTSD!
Vip put the blame for this ongoing tragedy squarely on government advisors shoulders with their episodes of ineptitude one after another on dealing with the problems of combat related PTSD – astonishingly these so called government experts have not moved forward in over 40 years in dealing with this problem. A prime example is how these experts never even became conscious that this disaster was looming or happening when it was right under their noses – it was only when they realised that they had to do something about this crisis (when VIP started shouting the odds about combat related PTSD) that they eventually came up with de-compression programmes. Unfortunately these de-compression programmes were really ‘blind leading the blind’ programmes – troops coming out of Iraq were flown to Cyprus where they stayed for a few days to be de-sensitised by being encouraged to get pissed. Supposedly troops were watching other troops for symptoms of combat related PTSD – but how could troops who did not know they were suffering combat related PTSD tell if other troops were suffering from this disorder?
But there again its very convenient for Governments to employ their own experts or ‘dogs that don’t bark’ who are supposedly taking care of our troops/veterans welfare – whilst the Regime is busy committing troops into other wars/conflicts and making it seem that there is no marked difference or problems connected to combat related PTSD being brought home by our troops/veterans. Thereby keeping the accurate statistics and casualties of how combat related PTSD has been steadily wiping out thousands of troops/veterans (and their families) lives over the past 40 years – all nicely hidden and covered up from the public at large! Is it that Politicians believe that its only themselves (and their families) who’s lives are worthwhile – or is the real problem that by showing the real face of combat related PTSD to troops/veterans (and their families) that this would mean adding more concealed innocent victims to the Butchers Bill of wars/conflicts?
VIP have been arguing about the subject of combat related PTSD with previous Governments for years – mainly because we have been more accurate in our research than any Government department cares to admit. For instance it was only through VIP’s dogged persistence and enquiries throughout the prison system – that brought to light the thousands of unseen and unheard of ex-soldiers that were languishing inside the prison population. Unfortunately it looks like there will be no let-up in VIP’s fight with this present Government either – especially regarding the plight which our troops/veterans (and their families) find themselves in for unknowingly suffering combat related PTSD? Scandalously there are many thousands of troops/veterans (and their families) who have already had their lives needlessly destroyed – written off as expendable and hoodwinked by deceitful Politicians to cover up the true costs of wars/conflicts. Thus VIP are dedicated to highlighting the facts of ‘how and why’ combat related PTSD works and creates these horrendous situations – combat related PTSD now runs very deep amongst troops/veterans (and their families) and is not going to miraculously disappear with age (which the authorities hope will happen) yet it can be corrected if troops/veterans (and their families) are shown how this disorder works.
Thankfully combat related PTSD is not the complicated science which some psychiatrists/psychologists would have people believe – but simply the experience of ‘knowing’ and the knowledge of ‘knowing’ when and how this devastating disorder begins to (unknowingly) take control of troops/veterans behaviour (desirably from the onset). Nor will it be science that solves the problem of combat related PTSD – but the ability of troops/veterans (and their families) to be able to quickly recognise the first signs of when this disorder starts to manifest it amongst troops/veterans or their loved ones. This knowledge will make it possible for troops/veterans to be able to ask for the treatment they need whenever this disorder comes into play and more importantly before it becomes full blown– as ‘knowing’ what combat related PTSD is really all about and being able to recognise it in themselves is the most important factor in dealing with this disorder.
Maybe the government are worried that by issuing the Survival Guide to all troops/veterans (and their families) who have served in wars/conflicts – that too many will try and claim a medical discharge for suffering combat related PTSD? This is of course absurd and a total nonsense as there are certain defining lines to prove whether a veteran is suffering from this disorder or not – to support a claim for combat related PTSD a veteran must first have to establish their connection with a traumatic incident (something that can not be easily fabricated). Example: To confirm a veteran’s involvement in a traumatic incident can only be done through their Regimental military records – these are documented soon after any incident and can fully determine any veterans (authentic) claims. If for instance a veteran claimed their being involved in an ambush incident in which some of their mates were killed or wounded this would be acceptable – however if their Regimental records showed that the veteran was not out on patrol at the time of the ambush then their claim would be dismissed. Nevertheless and also in addition to the fact that once the veteran has provided the right evidence and can prove the traumatic incident – the veteran has then got to go through the process of being diagnosed by a professional Psychiatrist/Psychologist (who’s diagnosis is not easily given away). Afterthought: if a veteran has been highly decorated for Gallantry – ‘forget all the rigmarole’ as they are very high risk of having the disorder!
VIP were recently contacted by an (international) Playwright working with the National Theatre Company who requested a copy of the VIP Survival Guide for research into a play as regards to a soldier suffering combat related PTSD – the playwright said after reading the Guide: “We think the Guide is brilliant and a great piece of work” (they also believed that there was more than one play in the Guide). Of course VIP thank the playwright for their kind words but have to say; “This is ironic and a mockery of the fact that thespians and playwrights (because of the Guide) will be able to understand more about how combat related PTSD really works and also its tragic consequences – than our own front line troops/veterans (and their families) and the MoD’s entire Medical Services”!
In other words its shameful and a disgrace the dilemma which troops/veterans (who don’t know they are suffering combat related PTSD) find themselves in on their return home from wars/conflicts – how troops/veterans (and their families) do not know the fundamental issues of ‘how or why’ they can suddenly become vulnerable and overcome by this disorder at anytime (present time or sometime in the future) but simply left to cope with the tragic consequences alone. It is also outrageous how the odds of these troops/veterans unknowingly suffering combat related PTSD at being able to live normal productive lives – are all stacked against them from the moment they return home. Sadly there is not much chance of help from a Prime Minister who likes playing with words – as Mr Cameron boasted in a sentence soon after the spending review cuts of Britain’s Armed Forces saying: “Britain has always punched above its weight in the world”. Mr Cameron’s words should have really been: “Britain has always punched ‘below the belt’ when it comes to the aftercare and treatment of its Armed Forces”. In other words the government will do anything to save money – but nothing to save troops/veterans (and their families) lives once they have done their duty’!
Footnote: Hopefully the rock sample given to the British Prime Minister from the President of Chile will now be a poignant and nagging reminder to him – of his responsibility to our troops/veterans (and their families) and make him turn his words into deeds by issuing them all with copies of the Survival Guide to give them an escape route out of their trapped world of combat related PTSD!
p.s the best part of troops/veterans do not ‘know or realise’ that they are suffering combat related PTSD – and tragically they are the ones most likely to suffer ‘Alcoholism, Homelessness, Divorce Prison and Suicide’. Thankfully there is now an answer to prevent these troops/veterans from continuing to unknowingly suffer this devastating disorder – by issuing all troops/veterans (and their families) who have served in wars/conflicts with copies of the VIP Survival Guide. The key to the Survival Guide’s success is that it is written in a style and content which troops/veterans unknowingly suffering combat related PTSD will be able to easily understand and recognise – enabling them to step forward for the treatment and justice they desperately deserve before their (and their families) lives are destroyed.
A Double Edged Rock
On Monday 18th October 2010, the Chilean President Sebastian Pinera gave a piece of rock from the San Jose mine to the British Prime Minister Mr David Cameron – the rock sample was brought up from the bottom of the caved-in mine where 33 miners were trapped underground for 70 days and is a symbol of Chile’s ‘commitment, courage, faith, hope and unity’ at accomplishing the task of rescuing the trapped miners.
Isn’t it a pity that David Cameron hasn’t got the same commitment when it comes to dealing with the task of sorting out the mental health issues of our troops/veterans returning from wars/conflicts – as he promised to do when he became leader of the conservative party. But obviously with combat related PTSD being a hidden wound that can’t be seen like a physical one – its easy for politicians (when in power) to act as if the disorder is not happening on such a massive scale as they declared when they were in the Opposition party.
‘Ex-soldiers swell jails’
‘War veterans abandoned’
‘Haunted, in prison, now homeless’
‘Scandal of our abandoned war heroes’
Embarrassingly for this Conservative led Government there is no difference whatsoever in those newspaper headlines other than the first two articles were written under the Labour government’s term in office – and the other two come under this new Coalition Governments watch!
Actually the newspaper captions divulge a ‘groundhog day’ true picture of what’s happening to our troops/veterans no matter which political party is in power – and most certainly nothing has been done or changed in any constructive way to help the current veterans who are unknowingly suffering combat related PTSD by this present government. Shamefully those newspaper stories are not made-up myths but factual accounts and also confirmation that no matter what past or present leaders of British Governments say regarding the care and welfare of our troops/veterans it is all a load of baloney – thought up to conceal the fact that troops/veterans futures (who don’t know they are suffering this disorder) are unimportant to Politicians as the disastrous outcome is always the same for these troops/veterans (and their families)!
The proof is in the pudding with the present day Prime Minister Mr David Cameron’s choice of words – on the subject of the treatment of our troops/veterans when he took over the leadership of the Conservative Party he said: “We must do more for our Armed Forces” (he has since becoming leader of the Coalition Government sanctioned the training of more therapists for treating troops/veterans suffering combat related PTSD). The Defence Minister Dr Liam Fox announced at the Tory Party conference the Governments response to the ‘National Scandal’ of our troops/veterans and combat related PTSD – ‘A 24 hour helpline for troubled soldiers – and dedicated teams of nurses to treat troops/veterans’? Sorry to say but these promises are only cosmetic and will not be of any use whatsoever to the troops/veterans who are unknowingly suffering combat related PTSD – as in reality the government could train up another ‘hundred thousand’ new therapists but if the troops/veterans are unaware that they are suffering from this disorder then no-one is going anywhere or speaking to anyone! In fact these Politicians pledges would be on the same lines as the Chilean President telephoning a message down to the trapped miners saying: “Don’t worry we have dedicated medical teams waiting to treat you – once you have dug yourselves out of the collapsed pit”!
Unbelievably this Governments whole approach to combat related PTSD has become a complete ‘dogs dinner’ and more stupid than the previous Labour Governments brainless attempts at tackling this problem – particularly when you take into account that the vast majority of troops/veterans ‘do not know or realise’ that they are unknowingly suffering combat related PTSD. Therefore any rational thinking Government would have made the problem of troops/veterans who don’t know that they are suffering from combat related PTSD their top priority as this is the all important issue – and then have made certain that all troops/veterans (and their families) who have served in wars/conflicts would be able to identify this disorder ‘if or whenever’ the signs/symptoms begin to show themselves? But Mr Cameron and his Defence Minister are deliberately leaving out these crucial factors and coming up with cynical gimmicks such as saying the government is training up more therapists – which is an absolute classic case of putting the ‘cart before the horse’ and about as useful to troops/veterans who are unknowingly suffering from this disorder as this Government ordering two more aircraft carriers that cant fly any planes. Since how on earth do Messer’s Cameron and Fox expect these troops/veterans who don’t know they are suffering combat related PTSD – to ask for the help they vitally need when they genuinely believe they are not suffering from this disorder?
Example: “who would report sick with flu – if they did not feel ill or show any symptoms and likewise for troops/veterans as before they can ask for the treatment they require – they first have to be able to acknowledge that they themselves are (unknowingly) suffering from this disorder? If troops/veterans are unable to recognise this problem then no-one will step forward or ask for the help they require – this is also the crucial reason ‘why’ the VIP Survival Guide must be issued to all troops/veterans (and their families) on their return home from serving in wars/conflicts. The Survival guide will play a very important part in troops/veterans recovery and should be paramount as the first point of impact that troops/veterans (and their families) have to counter combat related PTSD – enabling them (or their families) to recognise what the disorder is all about by becoming aware of their own behaviour – and showing them (and their families) how and why’ they have been unable to fit back into our society at peace. In truth the Guide is like the escape shaft that was drilled down to the trapped Chilean miners – and is most essential to troops/veterans (and their families) plus the authorities (if the Government have any real intention of tackling this problem) to give our troops/veterans a return ticket back to a normal life. Otherwise this cycle of destruction of troops/veterans (and their families) lives will continue on their return home – simply because they will remain stuck under the veil of combat related PTSD.
Scandalously and without doubt there’s been a steady increase over the past 40 years of thousands of troops/veterans (and their families) becoming the innocent victims of combat related PTSD – yes, unbelievably this incredible saga of high rates of ‘Alcoholism, Divorce, homelessness, Prison and Suicide’ amongst troops/veterans has been steadily rising since British troops first became embroiled in the conflict of Northern Ireland in 1969. Suffice to say that the troops/veterans unknowingly suffering this disorder ‘do not willingly volunteer for these bleak and devastating futures’ – they develop them because of their illness due to their military service. Subsequently when adding all the other wars/conflicts which British troops/veterans have been constantly involved in during those four decades right up to the present day war in Afghanistan – it means that the UK has serious problems on a major scale with its troops/veterans unknowingly suffering combat related PTSD!
Vip put the blame for this ongoing tragedy squarely on government advisors shoulders with their episodes of ineptitude one after another on dealing with the problems of combat related PTSD – astonishingly these so called government experts have not moved forward in over 40 years in dealing with this problem. A prime example is how these experts never even became conscious that this disaster was looming or happening when it was right under their noses – it was only when they realised that they had to do something about this crisis (when VIP started shouting the odds about combat related PTSD) that they eventually came up with de-compression programmes. Unfortunately these de-compression programmes were really ‘blind leading the blind’ programmes – troops coming out of Iraq were flown to Cyprus where they stayed for a few days to be de-sensitised by being encouraged to get pissed. Supposedly troops were watching other troops for symptoms of combat related PTSD – but how could troops who did not know they were suffering combat related PTSD tell if other troops were suffering from this disorder?
But there again its very convenient for Governments to employ their own experts or ‘dogs that don’t bark’ who are supposedly taking care of our troops/veterans welfare – whilst the Regime is busy committing troops into other wars/conflicts and making it seem that there is no marked difference or problems connected to combat related PTSD being brought home by our troops/veterans. Thereby keeping the accurate statistics and casualties of how combat related PTSD has been steadily wiping out thousands of troops/veterans (and their families) lives over the past 40 years – all nicely hidden and covered up from the public at large! Is it that Politicians believe that its only themselves (and their families) who’s lives are worthwhile – or is the real problem that by showing the real face of combat related PTSD to troops/veterans (and their families) that this would mean adding more concealed innocent victims to the Butchers Bill of wars/conflicts?
VIP have been arguing about the subject of combat related PTSD with previous Governments for years – mainly because we have been more accurate in our research than any Government department cares to admit. For instance it was only through VIP’s dogged persistence and enquiries throughout the prison system – that brought to light the thousands of unseen and unheard of ex-soldiers that were languishing inside the prison population. Unfortunately it looks like there will be no let-up in VIP’s fight with this present Government either – especially regarding the plight which our troops/veterans (and their families) find themselves in for unknowingly suffering combat related PTSD? Scandalously there are many thousands of troops/veterans (and their families) who have already had their lives needlessly destroyed – written off as expendable and hoodwinked by deceitful Politicians to cover up the true costs of wars/conflicts. Thus VIP are dedicated to highlighting the facts of ‘how and why’ combat related PTSD works and creates these horrendous situations – combat related PTSD now runs very deep amongst troops/veterans (and their families) and is not going to miraculously disappear with age (which the authorities hope will happen) yet it can be corrected if troops/veterans (and their families) are shown how this disorder works.
Thankfully combat related PTSD is not the complicated science which some psychiatrists/psychologists would have people believe – but simply the experience of ‘knowing’ and the knowledge of ‘knowing’ when and how this devastating disorder begins to (unknowingly) take control of troops/veterans behaviour (desirably from the onset). Nor will it be science that solves the problem of combat related PTSD – but the ability of troops/veterans (and their families) to be able to quickly recognise the first signs of when this disorder starts to manifest it amongst troops/veterans or their loved ones. This knowledge will make it possible for troops/veterans to be able to ask for the treatment they need whenever this disorder comes into play and more importantly before it becomes full blown– as ‘knowing’ what combat related PTSD is really all about and being able to recognise it in themselves is the most important factor in dealing with this disorder.
Maybe the government are worried that by issuing the Survival Guide to all troops/veterans (and their families) who have served in wars/conflicts – that too many will try and claim a medical discharge for suffering combat related PTSD? This is of course absurd and a total nonsense as there are certain defining lines to prove whether a veteran is suffering from this disorder or not – to support a claim for combat related PTSD a veteran must first have to establish their connection with a traumatic incident (something that can not be easily fabricated). Example: To confirm a veteran’s involvement in a traumatic incident can only be done through their Regimental military records – these are documented soon after any incident and can fully determine any veterans (authentic) claims. If for instance a veteran claimed their being involved in an ambush incident in which some of their mates were killed or wounded this would be acceptable – however if their Regimental records showed that the veteran was not out on patrol at the time of the ambush then their claim would be dismissed. Nevertheless and also in addition to the fact that once the veteran has provided the right evidence and can prove the traumatic incident – the veteran has then got to go through the process of being diagnosed by a professional Psychiatrist/Psychologist (who’s diagnosis is not easily given away). Afterthought: if a veteran has been highly decorated for Gallantry – ‘forget all the rigmarole’ as they are very high risk of having the disorder!
VIP were recently contacted by an (international) Playwright working with the National Theatre Company who requested a copy of the VIP Survival Guide for research into a play as regards to a soldier suffering combat related PTSD – the playwright said after reading the Guide: “We think the Guide is brilliant and a great piece of work” (they also believed that there was more than one play in the Guide). Of course VIP thank the playwright for their kind words but have to say; “This is ironic and a mockery of the fact that thespians and playwrights (because of the Guide) will be able to understand more about how combat related PTSD really works and also its tragic consequences – than our own front line troops/veterans (and their families) and the MoD’s entire Medical Services”!
In other words its shameful and a disgrace the dilemma which troops/veterans (who don’t know they are suffering combat related PTSD) find themselves in on their return home from wars/conflicts – how troops/veterans (and their families) do not know the fundamental issues of ‘how or why’ they can suddenly become vulnerable and overcome by this disorder at anytime (present time or sometime in the future) but simply left to cope with the tragic consequences alone. It is also outrageous how the odds of these troops/veterans unknowingly suffering combat related PTSD at being able to live normal productive lives – are all stacked against them from the moment they return home. Sadly there is not much chance of help from a Prime Minister who likes playing with words – as Mr Cameron boasted in a sentence soon after the spending review cuts of Britain’s Armed Forces saying: “Britain has always punched above its weight in the world”. Mr Cameron’s words should have really been: “Britain has always punched ‘below the belt’ when it comes to the aftercare and treatment of its Armed Forces”. In other words the government will do anything to save money – but nothing to save troops/veterans (and their families) lives once they have done their duty’!
Footnote: Hopefully the rock sample given to the British Prime Minister from the President of Chile will now be a poignant and nagging reminder to him – of his responsibility to our troops/veterans (and their families) and make him turn his words into deeds by issuing them all with copies of the Survival Guide to give them an escape route out of their trapped world of combat related PTSD!
CLUELESS
On Monday 5th July 2010 two features were published in the Guardian newspaper – the articles: ‘Haunted, in prison, now homeless’ and ‘Veterans of combat should be helped to adjust to civilian life, say MPs, as number in jail grow’. The two pieces of writing were published on the same page and although written by the same reporter (Karen McVeigh) – both articles were as different as ‘chalk and cheese’?
The first article ‘Haunted, in prison, now homeless’ was a classic example and tragic account of how combat related PTSD really works and can subtly take over and wipe out troops/veterans (and their families) lives without their knowledge – this article was excellent because it was factual and very poignant in the way it showed the massive decline in a former Sergeant Major (and his family’s) lives. Tragically resulting in his imprisonment and now living in a tent like a down and out – all because of him ‘unknowingly’ suffering combat related PTSD.
However the other article ‘Veterans of combat should be helped to adjust to civilian life, say MPs, as number in jail grows’ is the one which concerns VIP most. Unfortunately this article was a classic example of how people who have never suffered combat related PTSD – simply do not know what they are talking about when it comes to dealing with the issues of troops/veterans unknowingly suffering combat related PTSD.
For example: in the article it mentions how the former chief inspector of prisons Lord Ramsbotham is calling for a Cabinet Office Minister to be given responsibility for the welfare of current and former military personnel – yet amazingly when Lord Ramsbotham was the chief inspector of prisons (1995-2001) he paid no attention whatsoever to the plight of the high numbers of ex soldiers in the prison population. Similarly the last government created the post of Veterans Minister (supposedly for veterans welfare) yet hypocritically these Ministers were more concerned in protecting Labour’s shameful track record of their useless decompression screening programmes – and also of concealing and minimising the chaotic size of the high numbers of ex-soldiers in the prison population rather than veterans mental welfare issues. Regrettably Lord Ramsbotham’s plan of wellbeing for troops/veterans unknowingly suffering combat related PTSD – is aptly described in Siegfried Sassoon’s poem ‘The General’!
VIP also have major concerns on the recommendations being put forward by the Justice Unions Parliamentary group (JUPG) to the MoD – as the JUPG’s interpretation of combat related PTSD along with their mixed recommendations in the newspaper article will be literally useless to troops/veterans ‘unknowingly’ suffering this disorder. Unfortunately and because of the way it ‘masks’ itself the vast majority of troops/veterans ‘do not know or realise’ that they are ‘unknowingly’ suffering combat related PTSD and wholeheartedly believe that there is nothing wrong with themselves – consequently they will unwittingly continue to sail straight through all the JUPG’s recommendations.
For instance:
- JUPG propose: ‘Give those returning from combat a psychological assessment before they leave the service – with special attention to alcohol or drug issues.’
- VIP say: ‘The best psychiatrists/psychologists in the world could assess troops/veterans returning from wars/conflicts but if the troops/veterans ‘don’t know or realise’ that they are unknowingly suffering combat related PTSD- then these psychiatrists/psychologists will still not correctly assess them.
- Note: There is talk of this new government having a plan to deal with combat related PTSD – which consists of training therapists (who will be veterans) and also informing local GP’s of veterans living in their areas. This seems a great idea but likewise ‘if troops/veterans do not know or realise that they are unknowingly suffering this disorder’ – then the same problem will arise and troops/veterans will unconsciously shut down (believing themselves normal) and consequently no-one is going anywhere!
- JUPG propose: ‘All service personnel should have access to advice on issues ranging from housing and welfare benefit to relationship skills, debt management and domestic violence, if needed, followed by a one to one assessment six months later’.
- VIP say: ‘Advice on housing, welfare benefits, debt management and domestic violence is a good thing to servicemen leaving the armed forces although on the other hand to someone ‘unknowingly’ suffering combat related PTSD and leaving the armed forces – this advice is pointless and will not make the slightest difference to their behaviour or condition.
- Note: Any amount of advice to someone ‘unknowingly’ suffering combat related PTSD will just ‘go out of the window’ when this disorder comes into play – therefore troops/veterans must first need to know and learn how and why they are ‘unknowingly’ suffering combat related PTSD before any advice on how to become an ordinary citizen can make a difference or be of any help or use to them.
- JUPG propose: ‘A resettlement assessment, where help is needed, six months before discharge’ – plus a follow-up assessment where help is needed six months after discharge’.
- VIP say: ‘This is okay for ‘normal’ service personnel who are leaving and have left the services – but to the ones ‘unknowingly’ suffering combat related PTSD it will be meaningless’.
- Note: Sorry to say you cannot regulate combat related PTSD in 6 month or yearly periodic assessments (combat related PTSD can stay hidden for years before it manifests itself – and still remain just as deadly). In short for troops/veterans ‘unknowingly’ suffering combat related PTSD – it is like being dumped in the middle of a hidden minefield for the rest of their lives. Sadly it does not miraculously disappear with age and disastrously some troops/veterans will stand on a PTSD mine within weeks of leaving the armed forces – others may find a safe path for a time but in the end they will assuredly also detonate a PTSD mine as the odds are very much against them!
- JUPG propose: Funding for veterans support officers in prison and probation services.
- VIP say: The funding of support officers in prison and the Probation Service is a first class idea: ‘if the support offices have the experience of serving in wars/conflicts’ – otherwise they will be as useful as wearing sun glasses at midnight!
- Note: VIP organised the very first veterans group for veterans ‘unknowingly’ suffering combat related PTSD in the prison system – this was at HMP Frankland in July 1993. The group was made up of two prison officers and 6 inmates plus one psychologist. The prison officers and inmates had all served in wars/conflicts – but the psychologist had no military experience whatsoever and became the main problem in the group. The group was held every two weeks and lasted for a period of ten months but unfortunately the group’s popularity amongst veterans (prison officers and inmates alike) turned out to be its downfall – as combat related PTSD was classed as ‘taboo’ in those days and the psychologist didn’t want too many veterans seeking help!
- JUPG propose: a service record should become an automatic part of court reports. This is already being piloted by Cheshire probation service.
- VIP say: Why? VIP are already aware of veterans in prison who have been highly decorated with gallantry awards such as : ‘The Military Cross, the Queens Gallantry Medal, Mention In Despatches’ – all awards are proof of involvement in traumatic incidents. All awards were referred and acknowledged by the Courts but every single one was to no avail or mitigation – as no-one bothered to take combat related PTSD into account or consideration at the time of their trials! Scandalously if these troop/veteran ‘heroes’ were not given the decency of a fair and just trial by not being checked for combat related PTSD (or the jury not knowing of their mental illness) – then what chance or hope is there for troops/veterans ‘unknowingly’ suffering combat related PTSD without any gallantry awards of getting a fair and just trial?
- Note: A veteran ‘unknowingly’ suffering combat related PTSD will ‘say and believe anything’ to try and justify the crime that they have committed to themselves – never mind trying to explain and give details of a crime to the full might of a justice system. As outrageously a veteran not checked for combat related PTSD at the time of their trial means that the courts are relying on their presumed motive for the crime and guilty verdict – not the hidden main influence of combat related PTSD which easily overrides the motive because it ‘unknowingly’ becomes the trigger for the crime. Therefore all veterans who have served in wars/conflicts should be automatically checked for combat related PTSD when charged with an offence – and if found to be ‘unknowingly’ suffering this disorder then they should go under an entire different criminal process (normal civilians charge with a crime have volunteered to do the crime – whereas veterans ‘unknowingly’ suffering combat related PTSD have not as they are suffering a mental disorder due to their service to their country). These veterans should be given full access to solicitors/barristers, psychiatrists/psychologists who are specialised in combat related PTSD – subsequently by the time they appear before the criminal courts their defence teams can then put forward the mitigating circumstances of this disorder. This would prove to the courts that the veterans standing before the courts are not the real/true persons who committed the crime – judges would then by law take this into consideration when sentencing and proper treatment for this disorder would also become part of the veteran’s sentence.
Scandalously in this day and age the serious lack of care and knowledge of troops/veterans unknowingly suffering combat related PTSD by the whole system still goes on – a recent somewhat less intense example of the Guardian newspaper’s article is:
On Saturday 19th June the Daily Mirror published two features. One article was the newspapers mark of respect for the tragic death of two soldiers serving in Afghanistan – the tribute was called ‘Honour the Brave’. However the second article (two pages further on) read ‘Brit Army Thugs Free’: this whole article was about 6 Welsh Guards soldiers smashing up an Argentinean restaurant and attacking customers in a violet rampage on the island of Lanzarote – they were described as killing machines and spent 4 months in custody.
- Note: VIP would like to know if anyone took the trouble to check whether any of these soldiers actually served with the Welsh Guards on their recent tour of duty in Afghanistan – because its only months since the welsh Guards returned form Afghanistan and these ‘heroes’ are now classed as thugs! Surprisingly nothing was mentioned of the fact that the Welsh Guards had recently completed a very tough and demanding tour of duty in Afghanistan – where they not only lost their Commanding Officer but also lost other comrades and mates of theirs too. Surely this violence by these Guardsmen (if they had served in Afghanistan) should have been ringing alarm bells as a typical example of the first stages of combat related PTSD – so how many of these soldiers were properly checked for combat related PTSD on their return from Afghanistan or more to the point on their return back to their Battalion from Lanzarote?
Disastrously if any of these troops are ‘unknowingly’ suffering the onset stages of combat related PTSD and return back to Afghanistan on more ‘tours of duty’ – then they are ‘odds-on’ favourites to end up with ‘full blown’ combat related PTSD. Ironically the Chairman of the JUPG Mr Llwyd MP (Barrister) – may at a future date have to represent one or a few of them in Court back home in Wales.
Appallingly the story behind this picture and that of the Sgt Major’s (Haunted, in prison now homeless) – is that there still remains many more thousands of exact heartbreaking negative stories of troops/veterans ‘unknowingly’ suffering combat related PTSD in the UK.
If this new government is serious about tackling the problem of combat related PTSD – then its first duty has got to focus on all troops/veterans who are ‘unknowingly’ suffering this disorder. This can be done by issuing copies of the VIP Survival Guide to all troops/veterans (and their families) who have served in wars/conflicts – realistically the Guide will help ensure a success rate of between 80 – 100% of the troops/veterans ‘unknowingly’ suffering combat related PTSD and assist them to seek the treatment they fully deserve.
Masqueraders
The huge difference between troops/veterans and normal inmates in the prison population is that troops/veterans may unknowingly be suffering combat related PTSD- which should have been picked up when they first appeared before the courts and also fully explained to the courts but was shamefully ignored.
Therefore justice, recognition and the correct treatment for troops/veterans unknowingly suffering combat related PTSD in prisons and throughout the Criminal Justice system – are some of the reasons ‘why’ Veterans In Prison (VIP) write and will continue to write these articles. And besides ‘if we did not inform the public at large on what’s happening at ground level’ (Veterans inside the prison system) – then no-one would know or realise whether they are being ‘hoodwinked or misled’ by ‘the establishment’ or by organisations simply kowtowing to ‘establishment’ policies!
Whitewash
Sunday, 31 January 2010 17:16 Winston Churchill described Russia as: ‘a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma’ – and for our usage Veterans In Prison (VIP) describe this Governments approach to the high numbers of ex-soldiers in the prison population similarly as: ‘a cover up wrapped in a deception inside spin’!
Last Updated on Tuesday, 02 February 2010 18:49
Marking time
Thursday, 14 January 2010 16:05 Winston Churchill described Russia as: ‘a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma’ – and for our usage Veterans In Prison (VIP) describe this Governments approach to the high numbers of ex-soldiers in the prison population similarly as: ‘a cover up wrapped in a deception inside spin’!
Last Updated on Thursday, 15 April 2010 09:38
Their country’s reward
Tuesday, 05 January 2010 09:52 A number of years ago the rock group Pink Floyd released an album called ‘The Wall’, together with a video showing robotic trance like troops tramping and marching all over the place. Suitably this scenario is exactly the same message which the Government and Generals want the public to see when troops return home after serving in wars/conflicts – Welcome Home Parades as a Nations thanks to its heroes! These parades plus the relief and happiness shown on the faces of the families of these troops (seeking their loved ones return home safe), is all part of the ‘smoke and mirror’ image which the Government want to portray.
Last Updated on Thursday, 07 January 2010 17:05
Their country’s reward
Tuesday, 05 January 2010 09:52 A number of years ago the rock group Pink Floyd released an album called ‘The Wall’, together with a video showing robotic trance like troops tramping and marching all over the place. Suitably this scenario is exactly the same message which the Government and Generals want the public to see when troops return home after serving in wars/conflicts – Welcome Home Parades as a Nations thanks to its heroes! These parades plus the relief and happiness shown on the faces of the families of these troops (seeking their loved ones return home safe), is all part of the ‘smoke and mirror’ image which the Government want to portray. Last Updated on Thursday, 07 January 2010 17:05
The wars conflicts come home
Tuesday, 05 January 2010 09:51 Question: Why are veteran soldiers represented by excessive high numbers in the prison system? Answer: no-one knows because no-one has bothered to keep such records! Last Updated on Thursday, 07 January 2010 17:04 My congratulations on the Survival Guide. I think that it is quite outstanding, and for my welfare and clinical staff a really helpful insight into many of the things which they encounter as they go about their work. I will commend this work to anyone who shows more than a passing concern in the issues which you raise. Commodore Toby Elliott, Chief Executive Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society (Combat Stress) ——————————————————————————————————————————– I don’t think I will ever be able to put into words what this Guide means to me, it has changed my life. from the moment I first read a few pages, to now, reading it in its entirety. Tracey (ex-psychiatric nurse and sufferer of PTSD) ——————————————————————————————————————————— I can’t thank Jimmy enough, the Guide saved my life. Gary (Northern Ireland veteran and sufferer of PTSD) ————————————————————————————————————————————— Watching one’s child suffering PTSD is a heartbreaking experience. It made me feel totally inadequate as a mother as I could not take away the pain, fear, hurt, anger etc of my child. I also believed this anger was directed at me personally and found it difficult to understand. The Survival Guide gave me, in words that I can understand, a greater knowledge of PTSD, showing me how to HELP MYSELF deal with PTSD and therefore help and support my child. Mother of a sufferer of PTSD ——————————————————————————————————————————————— The guide blew me out of the water – why aren’t the MoD using it. former commander Britains Special Forces ————————————————————————————————————————————– The survival guide is what ptsd is really all about. SAS Officer ———————————————————————————————————- fantastic piece of work SAS Officer ————————————————————————————- Heartfelt thanks for the guide, a shocking read that took me 4 days to work through: veteran soldier ——————————————————————————————————————————————— Thanks, your guide has opened my eyes to something even i dismissed before, I was so wrong and I realise now I’ve been suffering for years: Gulf War veteran ——————————————————————————————————————————————– Thanks, for once there is light at the end of the tunnel, yours is an outstanding and worthy cause, well done: Northern Ireland veteran —————————————————————————————————————————————– Thanks for my guide, its an amazing piece of work and its such a relief to know I am not alone: Northern Ireland veteran MORE ARTICLES:
Sugar coated bullshitTuesday, 05 January 2010 09:49 Britain’s army Chief General Sir Richard Dannatt said in a speech at the Institute of Strategic Studies (23/09/07); that he was concerned by the apathy and lack of support by the Nation towards our soldiers returning home after serving in the war/conflicts of Iraq and Afghanistan. He also went on to compare how the American public treat, honour and respect their troops/veterans on their return home and show their thanks by having welcome home parades and shaking their hands in public. Last Updated on Sunday, 06 November 2011 16:50 |
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Veterans in prisonTuesday, 05 January 2010 09:44 “Cheated of justice because of combat experiences fighting for justice” Veterans In Prison (VIP) was founded by ex-soldiers because of the shockingly high numbers of veteran soldiers in the prison population.VIP and some psychiatrists, are convinced that the majority of these ex-soldiers are unknowingly suffering from the effects of combat related psychological disorders, unless treated it will change their whole psychological universe on their return home to peacetime surroundings after serving in wars/conflicts. A very high price is being paid by these troops/veterans for being psychologically injured in their Service to the country. Scandalously they have been dumped inside the prison system and left to cope with these disorders alone, and neither has there been any investigation or debate by MP’s into why there are such high numbers of veteran soldiers in the prison population (a much higher percentage rate than any other profession in the entire prison system). VIP believe that this hidden mountain of ex-soldiers, is being deliberately kept secret from the public at large by government run departments such as the Criminal Justice System and the Home Office. This website will prove that this government, who keeps stressing and exploiting new dangers of terrorist threats against the British people by Al-Qaeda or Muslim extremists, are in truth doing more damage to their own troops/veterans (and their families) than any terrorists organisation could ever hope to achieve. Last Updated on Sunday, 14 February 2010 20:37 |
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Acknowledgements A work of ‘Magnum Opus’ Major General (Rtd) Dr. R. Short (Director General British Army Medical Services 1996-1999)
Vets in Prison 