TALKING2MINDS

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Fan Dance fundraising page TALKING2MINDS

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Talking 2 Minds Needs Your Help!

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PTSD is a state of mind...you need someone to alter that state of mind, that someone is you... But these people will help you get there.

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TALKING2MINDS PTSD

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ITV Daybreak Help Harry Killick PTSD.

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The MoD have been lying about PTSD since WWI

The MoD have been lying about PTSD since WWI when they murdered mentally ill soldiers on the front line - twenty of which were shot as a method of ensuring no other troops refused to advance into enemy gunfire. 


They murdered an officer asa token so that the troops wouldn't rebel, feeling that only "other ranks" were shot.

The MOD some time later declared twenty one shot for cowardice, the truth, which emerged later, was that over a hundred were murdered. One soldier, who was three feet from his post, was shot for desertion. This doesn't include the numbers who were detailed as “lost in battle.”

By WWII, PTSD was called “feeble heart” and later “shell shock” and was considered a coward’s reaction to conflict. Victims were sent to the rear for a period of convalescence then returned to the front line. If they made it back to the UK alive, the MoD washed their hands of them and so do society.

By the mid-eighties, the government and the MoD were labelling Veterans with PTSD who had served in Northern Ireland and the Falklands, and earlier conflicts such as Aden and Palestine as "defective or unsuitable" stating that they should have been weeded out at the recruitment level.

This is hard to countenance when Veterans’ Mental health charities such as Combat Stress and Talking2Minds are predominantly attended by former SAS, SBS, Paras, Royal Marines and other specialist operators with ranks from Private to Major. Some served in every single conflict since 1969 and amongst them are distinguished battle leaders decorated to the highest order.

Today, PTSD is still viewed as a sign of weakness. Officially, the MoD is trying to combat this with a campaign entitled “Don’t bottle it up”. However, when the result of admitting that you have a mental problem is usually medical or admin discharge, it’s hardly surprising that few feel able to admit their condition, turning instead to alcohol or drugs as a form of self-medication.

For those who do seek help, they are usually diagnosed with PTSR (Post Traumatic Stress Response) which is classed as a normal reaction which the MoD will not pay compensation for. Those who do not spontaneously recover (or with the help of a small number of counselling sessions) are medically or admin discharged as suffering from PTSR not PTSD to avoid having to support them further. If alcoholism or drug use are identified, sufferers are either admin or dishonourably discharged.

The MOD states that 4% of the Veteran population are PTSD sufferers. In the US, official figures place it nearer 20% - 35% and climbing. The discrepancy is hard to understand given that British and American forces have operated side by side for the last twenty years.

Despite this deliberate attempt to skew the figures, Charities dealing with PTSD in the UK reported a 72% increase in referrals in 2010. 2012 saw a staggering 500% hike in referals.

The tragedy is that proven, cost-effective treatments are available. In fact, they are so successful that serving personnel with PTSD could be returned to full, active service should they so wished within a matter of weeks. And yet, the Government funders and the MOD are refusing to even look at these approaches. Why?

Because of their woeful refusal to admit the problem and consider the options, let alone put money behind them, hundreds of thousands of Veterans and serving personnel are needlessly suffering.

Many of them end up in prison. A disproportionate 10% of the prison populous is ex-military and a significant number have diagnosed mental health issues. Other effects are broken homes, domestic violence, drugs and alcohol abuse or suicides. The impact on the families and the social implications are far reaching and very serious. Already we have seen multiple incidents in UK involving attacks and murders from those suffering from PTSD.

And still, the policy makers refuse to act. This inability to see the facts, accept the responsibilities and make the right decision both in social, personal and financial terms beggars belief.

Perhaps we should be pleased that they no longer shoot suffers – although as a highly cost-effective option, perhaps it’s already under consideration.

HT/Bob Paxman  TALKING2MINDS 






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Therapeutic poetry for Veterans

For some strange reason after I was diagnosed with PTSD by a civilian doctor  I started to write poetry  amongst other things about the dark side of my mind. I found this a way of expressing my very personal inner thoughts and I believe that this did help me help myself. It took me a further three years of writing about my experiences in the Falklands War  with my book Watching Men Burn  which never entered my head as a young soldier. Little did I know I was in the process of gathering the material for the book during my time in the ranks. Finding poetry so therapeutic in helping my PTSD I have donated all of my poetry to the charity  Talking2minds  a groundbreaking new charity started by ex SAS trooper Bob Paxman who suffered with PTSD and would not accept that there was very little he could do about it. A long serving champion of veterans Remy Benoit who runs the American based web site Welcome Home Soldier  amongst others has kindly volunteered to publish a book of poetry with all the proceeds going to Talking 2minds a wonderful gesture. In this world full of greed and self indulgence this is a breath of fresh air, people helping others in need. When the book is available I will let my readers know via this web site.

Mark Meek Interview ITV Bob Paxman talking2minds

Bob Paxman being the special forces soldier refused to let PTSD beat him. This is poem I also wrote about getting the police to kill you titled `Death By Cop`


I've found the solution to this disease in my mind
Its at the end of a phone call its all gunna stop
Gunna order me up some death by cop
Like a pizza delivery here comes the boys in blue
Them boys are locked and loaded
They know just what to do
Sorry kids sorry mama sorry papa its got to stop
Here comes the sirens and lights with my death by cop
Those 5.56 will rip my spleen its so obscene
Oh yippee do its whop whop whop
The armed police by air with my death by cop 
Put me down like a dog
Put me down like a hog
Please make it stop mother""""s
Its my death by cop.


PS. I don't recommend this form of action