[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYn_PI5qE6M[/embedyt]
Whilst welcoming the ongoing progress being made to support former Armed Forces personnel, I highlighted to the Scottish Parliament this week that there are still gaps in support particularly for veterans involved in the recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Referrals for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other mental health conditions from former armed forces personnel has gone up by 143% over the past 10 years and more support is required.
Scottish Ministers gave me an assurance that work to collect data on the numbers of veterans taking their own lives was ongoing. This is something I have been campaigning for and is needed to allow for a better understanding of what is going on as well as providing a vital resource to prevent further tragedies.
It should be obvious that veterans and their families should be given the support that is required when it is needed. However, that is not always the case, particularly for people who have been involved in recent conflicts. It is easy for a person to switch off the reality of conflict when that conflict is taking place thousands of miles away and poses no immediate threat to them or their family. However, the realities of the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan included 632 British soldiers being killed and tens of thousands being injured. Even those statistics cannot allow me to begin to imagine the horrific experience of being in armed conflict.
That is why we all in Scotland have a duty to all those who have served in our armed forces, particularly those who have served in recent conflicts, and now need our support.
I will continue to speak and work with veterans to highlight the issues to both the UK and Scottish Governments and make sure that when support is needed, then that support is being made available.
