ABSTRACT
In Britain, a military veteran is anyone who has served for at least 1 day in HM Forces (regular or reserve) or in the Merchant Navy in a vessel used in military operations. Very few medical discharges are for mental health problems, with only 150 of 1200 annual medical discharges being for mental health issues. It has been noted that many ex-service personnel report suffering from significant mental health problems while in the armed services but are reluctant to consult military GPs or access military mental health services (Hoge et al., 2006). This reticence is linked to feelings of shame and guilt as well as stigma and the fear that their careers might be compromised or lost (Scheiner, 2008).
