Theresa May urged to tackle the spiralling PTSD timebomb as shock figures show soaring mental discharges
A staggering 473 soldiers were discharged from the Army, Navy or RAF for “mental or behavioural” reasons in 2015-2016 – more than double the number in 2011-2012
THERESA MAY was last night accused of "betraying" Our Boys after a staggering 150 per cent rise in troops quitting the Armed Forces over mental health issues.
The PM was urged to tackle the spiralling PTSD timebomb as shock figures revealed 473 soldiers were discharged from the Army, Navy or RAF for "mental or behavioural" reasons in 2015-2016.
The total is more than double the number in 2011-2012.
And the Ministry of Defence stats show that of the 473, 189 were for cases of post-traumatic stress disorder - more than three times the 50 recorded in 2011-2012.
Lib Dem peer Paddy Ashdown said the figures laid bare the Government’s failings on mental health – and urged them to set up funding to tackle post-traumatic stress and depression in the Forces.
He stormed: "I think a litmus test for the Government’s commitment to mental health is how we treat our troops. This data shows we are betraying them.
"The toll on our troops does not end as they leave the battlefield."
Melanie Waters, chief exec of the charity Help for Heroes added: "This just shows the sacrifices our brave girls and boys have made in service.
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She said: "Last week the Prime Minister promised to tackle the stigma around Mental Health problems. The Government urgently needs to explain the reason for the increase shown in these figures.
"This is wake up call to the country that there is still a huge task ahead to support those who are prepared to give all for our country."
The charity said that in the past week alone an unprecedented 80 veterans have come forward to ask for help overcoming anger, anxiety and depression.
The Sun last year revealed Britain’s most recent wars have left 83,000 troops with physical or mental injury.
A further 57,000 partners and children of former troops have also developed mental health issues because of their loved one’s service, it is claimed.
In the Ministry of Defence figures mental discharges have made up 14 per cent or 1,628 of the 11,600 troops who have left the Armed Forces in the past five years.
The biggest reason for medical discharge is muscular of skeletal disorders or injuries – 6,558.
Over the last five years, some 363 troops have left over nervous system disorders and 169 with skin or tissue disease.
Former Army officer and Tory MP Johnny Mercer said: "It is a good thing that more people are reporting mental health problems – something that has been traditionally been woefully under-reported.
"But whilst encouraging people to come forward for treatment, we must work harder to make sure that a provision for them is there.
"The worst possible thing would be to break the stigma, encourage people to come forward and for the treatment not to be there."
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