§ Dr. MurrisonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the(a) prevalence and (b) causes of occupational stress in (i) Her Majesty's forces, (ii) the MOD Police and (iii) the MOD Guard Service. [93670]
§ Dr. MoonieAccording to centrally held records, 13 Service personnel were medically discharged with occupational stress as the main cause between January 2001 and January 2003. Between 1 April 2002 and 7 March 2003, 10 officers in the Ministry of Defence Police were medically retired due to occupational stress or anxiety-related illnesses. No information is held centrally on the prevalence of occupational stress among members of the Ministry of Defence Guard Service.
In 1998, the Royal Navy undertook a three-year study of occupational stress among naval personnel. This found that the two principal causes of stress were trying to balance work and home life and discord in working relationships, and that good supervisor support was very effective in managing stress.
Our policies on occupational stress are kept under review in the light of developments in the field of stress management and treatment.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements he plans to make to provide post traumatic stress disorder counselling to members of the armed forces following any possible action in Iraq. [102643]
§ Dr. MoonieService personnel deploying to the Gulf region are given briefings on health issues, including stress-related disorders, and mental health staff are available to personnel in theatre. Briefings will be given to personnel prior to leaving theatre. These will cover post traumatic stress reactions and the problems that may be encountered on returning home to families. Personnel identified by commanders or medical staff as being at special risk would be referred to mental health staff.