The NSFT urge public to consider veterans as the firework season nears
The NSFT say the sound, smells and lights can trigger PTSD
As Bonfire Night celebrations get underway, veterans are being reminded that fireworks can trigger distressing memories for those living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust’s (NSFT) Veterans Integrated Service is raising awareness of how sudden loud noises, flashes and smells can affect those who have served in the armed forces, and urging both veterans and the public to take steps to reduce distress.
Vicky Bailey, Veterans Clinical Nurse Specialist, said:
“Whilst many people find fireworks exciting and a way of marking celebrations, they can be a trauma reminder for those who served in combat.
The sudden loud noises, flashes of light, and smells can trigger vivid and terrifying memories of war, leading to heightened anxiety, hypervigilance, and panic.”
Methods to help
Vicky advised veterans to plan ahead during fireworks season, whether that means attending a professional display or staying at home in a controlled environment.
“To cope, veterans can use noise-cancelling headphones, practice grounding techniques like focusing on their senses, use breathing exercises, and surround themselves with supportive friends and family,” she said.
“If you do feel able to go to a fireworks display, have a plan to leave if you become distressed and schedule healthy distractions such as exercising at home. Don’t forget to reassure yourself that fireworks season only lasts a short time, and it will soon be over.”
Veterans perspective
Wayne Ward, Veterans Practitioner at NSFT and a veteran himself, with 31 years of service, said the reminder campaign is about understanding how fireworks can impact those with combat experience.
“We want to make the general public and our staff aware of the effects fireworks can have on veterans... it can take someone straight back to a place in their past,” he said.
We asked Ward if he'd ever experienced PTSD from fireworks.
"A few years ago, during the day when the fireworks were going off, I didn't realise the effect it was going to have on me, but it was later on, when I was asleep, it took me back to a place in my past.
"In my dream, I was under attack, and my partner woke me up. It's not all the time, and it may not affect all veterans or people that serve, but for some people, it does."
NSFT states that it is the only mental health trust in the country to fund its own veterans’ mental health team. The Veterans Integrated Service offers a range of specialist pathways, including peer outreach sessions, a 16-week online stabilisation programme, and veterans’ wellbeing groups across Norfolk and Suffolk, with a new group set to launch in Dereham in the new year.
Help available
Wayne added that support is available for anyone struggling to ask for help.
“It can take veterans a few years to realise or even ask for support. If anyone does need help, there are plenty of helplines out there, but veterans can also self-refer to Op COURAGE by calling 0300 034 9991, or speak to their local community mental health team,” he said.
He added that Norfolk and Suffolk have one of the highest veteran populations in the UK, and encouraged residents to think of those who may find this time of year difficult.
“Take time to think about your neighbours and local community. There are so many veterans out there, maybe just knock on their door and ask how they’re doing.”
Members of the public are also being encouraged to follow Help for Heroes’ “Fireworks Heroes Code”, which suggests giving neighbours advance warning before hosting displays and considering the impact of fireworks on others.
For more information or support, visit the Veterans Integrated Service webpage on the NSFT website or search for Op COURAGE veterans mental health support.