Combat Stress, the veterans’ mental health charity, has issued a stark warning that without an urgent significant increase in funds, it will be unable to meet the rapidly rising demand for its specialist treatment for military-related trauma.
The warning comes on the day that research from the King’s Centre for Military Health Research, King’s College London, and commissioned by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs reveals the rate of probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including Complex PTSD (C-PTSD), has increased among veterans to 11% (it was previously 7% in the last phase of research almost a decade ago). Among veterans deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan in combat roles, the rate jumps even higher to almost one in five (18%) of which three-quarters (13.9%) meet the criteria for C-PTSD. In comparison, the rate of PTSD among the general public is 4%.
The report represents the culmination of 20 years of research, established to investigate the impact of deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan on the health and wellbeing of UK Armed Forces personnel.
The study is the first time that C-PTSD has been measured in this cohort of respondents. Previous research by Combat Stress and Edinburgh Napier University has shown that veterans are more likely to develop C-PTSD than PTSD. Unlike PTSD, which is often associated with a single traumatic event, C-PTSD can occur when someone experiences sustained, repeated or multiple traumatic events, and it results in more complicated problems.
Combat Stress, founded in 1919, is the only organisation in the UK dedicated to providing intensive, clinically proven treatments for veterans suffering from PTSD and Complex PTSD as a result of their military service. The charity is currently treating nearly 1,500 veterans a year – including referrals from the NHS and Op COURAGE when veterans need the extra care only Combat Stress can provide. In addition, the charity pioneers the most effective treatment programmes for veterans, reducing the burden on the NHS and driving forward the UK veteran mental health field.
In the last three years new referrals to Combat Stress have risen by 44% (539 in 2020/21 – 776 in 2023/24), including a 15% increase last year. Based on their analysis, the charity says referrals are only set to continue to grow. If new referrals rise by another 15% this year, Combat Stress will need an additional £2.5 million to meet that demand. Without more financial support for Combat Stress, the charity is warning there could be dire consequences for veterans in need of specialist mental health treatment.
Chloe Mackay, CEO of Combat Stress, said:
“We need more funding to keep pace with rising demand. We are gravely concerned about our ability to treat those veterans with military-related trauma who so desperately need us. Increased funding of our services is not only urgent, it’s essential. Ours is a service thousands rely on, and we rely on funding to deliver it.
“The findings of the study by the King’s Centre for Military Health Research, showing an increase in the rate of probable PTSD, including C-PTSD, confirm what we are seeing with an increase in new referrals to Combat Stress. We support the study’s recommendations for continued investment in veteran mental health services, as well as research to understand the best treatment and support for the condition.”
