Veterans may delay seeking help, says worker

A worker who supports veterans in Shropshire has urged ex-servicemen and women to reach out as soon as possible if they are struggling with their mental or physical health.

Sarah Kerr said some veterans left it too long to seek help, which had caused problems to worsen or "multiply".

The former Army nurse has been Shropshire Council's armed forces support coordinator since 2018.

She runs outreach events all over the county, where veterans and their families can receive advice and support.

"As a group, we talk the same language, we understand why somebody might be feeling the way they are," Mrs Kerr said.

"Veterans are very stoical people and won't necessarily ask for help, and sometime when they need that help they are so far down the line that it's not just one issue, it's multiple issues."

Her small team is made up of volunteers and council officers, who have other roles within the local authority.

She said if wanted, they can help veterans by making "that initial phone call for somebody struggling with their mental health".

"Part of the barrier is often making the first call, so I'll do that and pass them the phone and they can have a chat," Mrs Kerr explained.

"We can't reach all veterans, we're mindful of that, but if there is a way of reaching more of them then we will do."

The team holds monthly gatherings in Ludlow, Bridgnorth, Market Drayton and Shrewsbury, with pop-up sessions also taking place in Cosford, Wem and Ellesmere.

The team's primary job is to make sure veterans and their families are not disadvantaged when accessing public and commercial services.

Shropshire Council has to legally adhere to the Armed Forces Covenant, which promises to treat veterans with fairness and respect.

Other non-public bodies, such as businesses, retailers and hospitality venues, have also signed up to the pledge.

Mrs Kerr, who left the Army in 1994, said veterans can face some difficulties.

"When we went for a mortgage, we had it turned down because we didn't have any credit history because we'd lived in Germany for a number of years," she said.

"There are plenty of examples of veterans being disadvantaged and there will always be glitches, but if people are being treated unfairly then we need to know."

The team encouraged all ex-service personnel to register as veterans with their GPs.

Mrs Kerr said it meant if a health condition or illness was "attributed to their time in service" there were various routes they could be directed to.

The county has a high proportion of veterans because of large military bases such as RAF Cosford, RAF Shawbury and the Royal Irish Regiment, stationed at Tern Hill.

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