PTSD Awareness Month, held annually in June, aims to raise awareness and understanding about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, a severe mental health condition resulting from traumatic events.
To help people recover from PTSD and Complex PTSD (C-PTSD), the charity PTSD UK is leading this effort and provides trustworthy, easily comprehensible material. Fostering a community where the impacts of trauma are addressed with compassion and understanding. Educating the public on its connection to Military Personal Injury Claims, and how to support veterans.
What are the causes of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in veterans?
There are several causes of PTSD in veterans, as a result of traumatic events, such as:
- Witnessing death or physical injury
- Acts of war
- Sexual abuse
- Accidents
- Natural disaster
- Physical violence
- Moral injury
It is crucial to keep in mind that experiencing or witnessing a stressful event does not automatically result in the development of PTSD. Additionally, it implies that PTSD does not only emerge among combat veterans.
PTSD still has to be accurately diagnosed and treated by a medical professional, even though research into why some people get PTSD after a traumatic incident and others do not is still underway.
What are the symptoms of PTSD in veterans?
When recognising PTSD symptoms, the majority of serviceman are unaware they have PTSD or C-PTSD, despite experiencing symptoms as part of their everyday life.
Misdiagnosis of PTSD and C-PTSD can lead to additional disorders like depression, substance abuse, memory, and cognition issues, worsening the condition. Therefore, understanding PTSD’s presentation and four symptoms is crucial for effective treatment:
- Intrusion: Reliving the traumatic event through flashbacks, nightmares, and frightened thoughts that can result in physical symptoms such as racing pulse, sweating, pain, feeling sick, and tremors.
- Avoidance: Intentionally avoiding thoughts, situations, people, places, activities, objects, or feelings that trigger recall of the traumatic event.
- Hypervigilance and reactivity: Feeling “on edge,” always “on alert,” tense, jittery, and anxious, resulting in irritability, trouble sleeping, being easily startled, angry outbursts, difficulty concentrating, self-medicating, or self-destructive behaviours.
- Negative thoughts or mood: Experiencing negative thoughts and feelings about oneself, the event, or others; loss of interest in hobbies; and frequent feelings of guilt, shame, or blame.
How can I treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?
PTSD and C-PTSD, once considered incurable conditions, can be successfully treated.
In the UK, 70% of individuals suffering from these conditions do not receive any medical treatment. Despite 10% of veterans experiencing PTSD, evidence suggests successful treatment can be achieved years after the trauma, indicating that seeking help is never too late.
- Watchful waiting: Watchful waiting may be the first course of treatment for some people, followed by investigating therapeutic options including group or individual treatment.
- Psychological treatments: the main treatment options in the UK are psychological treatments such as Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprogramming (EMDR) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
Accepting traumatic events can be challenging, but treating PTSD effectively requires confronting thoughts and seeking professional help.
How can I help someone who has PTSD?
Supporting someone with PTSD is crucial for their recovery. A dedicated support network can provide practical assistance, improve well-being, facilitate recovery, strengthen relationships, and buffer against PTSD development. Social support also helps manage stress and reduces feelings of isolation.
You can support someone by:
- Learning about PTSD and how it can affect the whole family.
- Listen to the individual when they say they are not ready to do something.
- Be there for them, without trying to fix them.
- Encourage them to seek treatment and participate in activities.
- Recognize symptoms, even in yourself. Living with someone with PTSD can sometimes result in secondary PTSD – when the partner or family member feels symptoms that are similar to PTSD.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What are the types of Military claims?
Knowing how to navigate legal matters can make the transition back to civilian life easier. With the help of a specialised Military Claims solicitor, you can pursue the compensation you deserve for injuries or illnesses sustained during your service. Including:
- Personal Injury Claims: can be filed for injuries sustained due to negligence or unsafe conditions on duty, including injuries during training exercises, accidents involving military vehicles, or defective equipment.
- Psychiatric Injury/ Stress at Work: if you are a Service member who has suffered from stress at work, psychiatric injury, or a mental health condition. Employers have a duty to protect workers from physical and mental harm either caused by bullying, harassment, excessive workloads, or a lack of training.
- Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Claims: Prolonged exposure to loud noises, such as gunfire, explosions, and aircraft engines, can lead to hearing loss or tinnitus. If the military did not provide sufficient hearing protection, you might have grounds for a claim.
- Non-Freezing Cold Injury: This occurs when service personnel are exposed to cold, damp conditions. It does not lead to freezing of the tissues but instead causes damage over time.
How can I gain legal support after leaving the Armed Forces?
We understand that as a veteran, it is crucial to have access to legal support for family matters, selling or buying a property, or making a Will. You can gain this support by:
- Property: Whether you are looking to buy a property for the first time or are in the process of selling. Oakwood Property Solicitors strive to make the legal side of things as simple and stress-free as possible. Offering our Armed Forces clients a 10% discount on conveyancing fees.
- Wills: We know that writing a Will can be a daunting and emotional task, but it is vital to ensure that your assets and belongings are distributed how you wish when you are no longer here. We can assist with Will-writing, Grant of Probate and Lasting Power of Attorneys. Offering a 50% Armed Forces Discount on single and Mirror Wills.
- Family Law: We can assist service members and women with family matters, such as Divorce, Disputes involving Children and Pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements. Whether you are still serving or have left the military, we are here to help and support you when tough times arise.
How can I claim for compensation?
1. Civil claims
If your injury was caused due to your employer’s negligence, you may also be entitled to make a civil claim. Although military service involves facing dangerous situations, your employer is required to ensure your safety by providing:
- Safe Systems of Work: Implementing procedures and practices that reduce risks and ensure tasks are performed safely.
- Appropriate Work Equipment: Supplying and maintaining safe equipment for use.
- Sufficient Training: Offering adequate training so personnel can perform their duties safely and handle hazardous situations effectively.
If these responsibilities are not fulfilled, leading to an injury, you may have a valid compensation claim. This can cover various damages, including physical injuries, psychological effects, and financial losses.
2. Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS)
At Oakwood Solicitors Ltd, we can assist you in pursuing a claim through the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS), which compensates those who have suffered injury, illness, or death during the UK Armed Forces service.
You can claim for any injury or illness which has been caused by service in the armed forces, during training or in active duty, from hearing loss, and arthritis to amputations or mental health issues.
With our team of legal experts, we strive to secure the compensation you deserve to help you with your recovery and future needs.
What Types of Military Injuries does the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) cover?
The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme covers all regular service personnel, the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, and members of the reserves for all three services. You can claim whether you still serve or have left HM Armed Forces.
You may be entitled to claim compensation if you have an injury, illness or medical disorder caused or worsened by working in the UK Armed Forces Service. This includes accidents sustained in training exercises or active duty, resulting in physical or mental health conditions.
We have rounded up some common injuries that may be claimed for, however this list is not exhaustive:
- Accidents involving road traffic.
- Injuries during military training exercises
- Parachuting-related injuries
- Injuries from fires and explosions
- The harm caused by inadequate or faulty equipment and machinery.
- Injuries sustained during mountaineering activities.
- Non-freezing cold injuries
Is there a time limit when making my claim?
Claims for these types of injuries or illnesses must be made within 7 years of the earliest of the following dates:
- The date of the incident leading to the injury or illness.
- The date on which an injury or illness not caused by service was made worse by service.
- In the case of illness, the date of first seeking medical advice for that illness.
- The date of discharge
However, there are certain circumstances when a claim will be accepted outside the time limits above, such as being prevented from claiming due to ill health or your illness occurring later.
Further information:
PTSD Awareness Month.
PTSD Awareness: How to Recognize and Treat Symptoms in Veterans.
Help for Heroes.
Oakwood Solicitors Military Personal Injury Claims.
Armed Forces Legal Support.
WHAT TO DO NEXT
At Oakwood Solicitors Ltd, we are committed to supporting Armed Forces personnel, veterans, and reservists, whether they are still serving or have entered civilian life. Proudly partnered with veterans’ charity, Front Foot.
Our solicitors specialise in military claims, including complex cases such as hearing loss, PTSD, and medical negligence. We can also assist with other matters such as writing a Will, property, and family law.
Get in touch today for a no-obligation consultation. Choose one of the methods on the right-hand side of this page or call us on 0113 200 9720 to find out how we can help you.
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Rob Crompton joined Oakwood Solicitors in July 2007 as a Road Traffic Accident Paralegal Fee Earner. Rob has progressed through the organisation and holds the current position of Head of Personal Inj…
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