Calls to armed forces charity rise 85%
An armed forces charity which has a branch in Shropshire has reported an 85 per cent increase in requests for help from serving troops to its confidential helpline.
SSAFA, formerly known as the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen & Families Association, received 21,983 requests for help last year through its Forcesline service – a six per cent increase on 2014.
But the most striking increase was among serving personnel. More than 3,000 called Forcesline last year compared to 1,600 the year before.
In Shropshire, the number of requests for support rose by 38 per cent between 2013 and 2015. The organisation set up Forcesline at the request of the British Army following the deaths of four young army recruits at Deepcut Barracks.
One of those was Cheryl James, whose parents now live in Llanymynech, who was found with a gunshot wound to her head in November 1995 just days into her basic training at the Deepcut Army Camp in Surrey.
Air Vice Marshal David Murray, chief executive at SSAFA, said: "Those who serve in our Armed Forces are by their very nature resilient characters. They are then trained to be the most robust versions of themselves, so for some, asking for help can be a real challenge.
"It is interesting that the servicemen and women who are contacting us are choosing to come to SSAFA, rather than their own chain of command, as the 'grin and bear it' attitude within the serving community remains strong. Thankfully, heart-breaking images of dead and injured servicemen and women being repatriated from overseas no longer dominate the front pages.
"However, the United Kingdom is still at war. Our Armed Forces are protecting our national security each and every day and it is imperative that their welfare remains a priority. These men and women are exposed to high levels of pressure, unique to their professions, each and every day. They will continue to need encouragement to come forward with their problems and assurance that seeking help will not affect their career."
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "The Government is absolutely committed to the wellbeing of our Armed Forces and provides a wide range of support both during and after service."
