First-of-its-kind memorial for veterans and service personnel who died by suicide unveiled
A memorial solely dedicated to veterans and Armed Forces personnel who died by suicide has been unveiled at the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA).
The Elysium Memorial, at the 150-acre site in Alrewas, Staffordshire, is the first permanent memorial of its kind to be built in the UK.
The site not only honours those lost but provides a place of reflection for those affected by the loss of a friend or loved one.
Promoting more discussion around suicide
Officially dedicated on 13 September, the memorial was founded by British Army veteran Edward Mackenzie following the loss of a close friend.
During more than 30 years of military service, Mr Mackenzie had witnessed the devastating impact of suicide within the Armed Forces.
Upon seeing hundreds of mourners at his friend's funeral, he questioned whether something more could be done to remember those who had been lost, and to promote more discussion about suicide and mental health.
That reflection ultimately led to the creation of Elysium in 2021.
"I hope this memorial allows us to stop hiding from the word suicide and start talking about it more openly," he said.
"If Elysium can help veterans and the wider Armed Forces community talk about suicide and mental health and seek support, then we will have achieved something really important.
"Most crucially, this is a place to remember the people we have lost. Their lives mattered, and they should never be forgotten."
At Sunday's unveiling, a motorcycle convoy accompanied the founders to the NMA, where a piper played the Scottish lament, Flowers of the Forest, before a ribbon-cutting ceremony formally opened the memorial.
The project was supported by a £5,000 grant from the Veterans' Foundation.
Its chief executive, Jane Gurney, described the memorial as a "landmark step forward," and said the organisation was proud to support it.
"The mental health of the Armed Forces community is a key focus for us, and the Elysium Memorial gives our community a dignified place for people to remember those they have lost, while driving the crucial conversations that break the stigma around mental health and suicide," she said.
Suicide and mental health awareness urgently needed
Her words echo particular concern surrounding the rate of suicide among Armed Forces personnel and veterans.
An MOD report published in July revealed that one in eight (11.8%) of UK Armed Forces personnel were seen for a mental health-related reason over the 2025/26 period.
While this represents a decrease from 12.3% the previous year, it highlights that mental health challenges remain a significant issue for serving personnel.
Moreover, data recorded between 2006 and 2025 show 277 suicides among UK regular Armed Forces personnel.
Meanwhile, Office for National Statistics data published in 2024, covering the year 2021, recorded 253 suicides among UK Armed Forces veterans.
The figures are particularly concerning among younger veterans, with those aged 25 to 34 having a suicide rate more than twice that of men of the same age in the general population.
These figures underline the wider challenge the memorial is seeking to confront: the urgent need to talk openly about suicide and mental health, challenge the stigma, and ensure that people feel able to seek support.
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