§ Mr. Neil TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have left the armed forces as a result of post traumatic stress disorder brought on during service in the forces in each of the last five years; and what counselling services are available to service personnel involved in a traumatic situation. [134161]
§ Dr. MoonieThe numbers of personnel medically discharged from the Armed Forces in each of the last five years due solely or mainly to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are as follows:
Year Number 1995 34 1996 27 1997 19 1998 18 1999 18 My Department fully recognises PTSD as a potentially serious and disabling medical condition. Personnel needing counselling or psychiatric treatment have access to the Community Psychiatric Service at units, out-patient care at the Royal Hospital Haslar and in or out-patient care at the Duchess of Kent's Psychiatric Hospital, Catterick. Measures are in place aimed at preventing PTSD occurring among Service personnel including briefings for personnel deployed on military operations and the availability of counselling during deployments.