Scottish ex-soldier fronts new Help For Heroes mental health campaign

An Ayrshire veteran is playing a vital role in a new, national campaign to end the stigma of mental illness and encourage those affected to seek help.

The Help For Heroes “Cut the Clock” campaign comes as a new survey reveals veterans are delaying asking for help with their mental health by almost four years partly, due to believing civilian services will not understand them and a fear of being treated differently by friends and family.

Former Royal Highland Fusilier John Owens, from Kilmarnock was the youngest soldier to serve in the Gulf War aged 17. He suffered a stroke in his early 20s without even realising it. When he suffered a second stroke at the age of 38, coming to terms with it in his mind was tougher than dealing with the effects on his body.

His mental health took a hit, yet John felt unable to talk about it and suffered in silence for 18 months. Eventually, John, now aged 44, broke down and in doing so, realised that opening up was the first, brave step in helping him on the road to recovery.

John was supported in his recovery by the Help for Heroes Hidden Wounds service, which offers mental health support to Veterans and their loved ones. He said: “I am proud to stand up and call time on the stigma of mental health. For me months passed before I had help. I wouldn’t want anyone else to suffer like that.”

“I went public, letting everyone know who I am, what I’ve been through and most importantly the help I’ve received. I’ve gone from not having the confidence to speak about what I’ve been through to anyone, to being able to talk about it on social media. I have a new outlook and am evolving who I am.”

“Someone once suggested to me that life is like a 400-metre hurdle race. You just keep going and you tick each hurdle off. There will always be light at the end of the tunnel and there is always something you can focus on, find that thing and never give up on it.”

Karen Mead, Head of Psychological Wellbeing at Help for Heroes said: “John’s story is the reality for thousands of military personnel. Veterans are not accessing mental health support when they need it and we believe this needs to change. Our campaign is asking the nation to call time of stigma and to let those who have served their country know it’s ok to ask for help. We need the communities support to help us fund vital programmes to ensure we can continue to be there and respond quickly when Veterans do take that big step and ask for support.”