New Study Reveals PTSD's Impact On Partners Of Veterans

Picture courtesy of Cristian Newman

Many partners of former servicemen with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) have serious mental health issues of their own, according to a military charity.

Combat Stress surveyed 100 female partners of veterans diagnosed with PTSD and found that 45% had alcohol problems, 38% had depression, 37% had anxiety and 17% showed symptoms of PTSD themselves.

The study, funded by The Royal British Legion, also found that those women are less likely to seek support due to stigma and prioritising their partners’ mental health over their own.

Sue Freeth, Chief Executive of Combat Stress, said: “This important partner study revealed that a significant percentage of partners had developed alcohol problems, depression and anxiety disorders. It also showed that partners are affected by stigma and are reluctant or unable to seek help."

To tackle these problems, the charity has launched a programme which will teach the women how to recognise the symptoms of mental health issues and help them learn how to overcome the challenges they might be facing.

Dr Dominic Murphy, lead author of the research paper, said: “Many of the women we’ve spoken to have told us they’ve made sacrifices to accommodate the veteran’s needs.

"We’ll be helping partners to understand that it’s ok for them to prioritise their own needs, and we’ll give them the strategies to do that.”

At the end of last year, the charity reported a large rise in the numbers of veterans being referred to them with PTSD.

Combat Stress is the UK’s leading mental health charity for veterans and it treats conditions including PTSD, depression and anxiety.