More support needed for veterans in Hull
A charity which supports soldiers and veterans say they're struggling to cope with increasing demand.
A Hull charity which offers support to soldiers and veterans has told Viking how they're struggling to cope with the number of people coming forward for help.
Hull 4 Heroes only launched six months ago but every day - more and more people are coming through their doors.
One of the biggest issues is the number of veterans suffering with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Paul Matson is from the charity and told Viking:
"We are desperate for more support, Hull 4 Heroes is a new organisation and now that people are aware of us people are coming out of the walls to come and talk to us and tell us about their problems so when we are even more established it is only going to get worse.
"We have already helped a lot of veterans as it is but we have got people coming onto our books daily. I couldn't dream of giving you numbers because we aren't even aware of how many veterans are in the area.
"Hull itself was one of the biggest Armed Forces recruitment areas in the country because we are a deprived city and the fishing industry had been lost and the forces shot up here to take young lads to the forces."
Johnathan Morris joined the Armed Forces back in 1998 at the age of just 16 and later developed the condition. He says it was an extremely difficult time:
"It came out in a very confused manner which I was alienating myself from, my friends, family and partner and I was consuming alcohol to help myself sleep at night.
"For anybody who has got a physical injury, it is there and you can see it but with this, you cannot see it and you are oblivious to what is going on.
"I didn't actually know I was suffering with PTSD, it was my partner who spotted it. All you see is the blackness, you don't recognise shapes, figures or people talking to you. There is just this nothingness and it's a very dark, deep place to be.
"I was discharged from the forces with a physical injury and for me what triggered my PTSD was not knowing if I could do things anymore, I was struggling with myself, my mobility and allsorts at the time.
"You do get to that point where you are like do I really need to be here? Am I destined to be here? People are not understanding me and you get days where you just don't want to move from your bed."
A charity single is today being released in Hull to help raise awareness of the mental effects on soldiers when they leave the Armed Forces.
Untold Story is also hoping to raise funds for local charities that support veterans.
Dave Brewer is behind the project and said:
"When the song was written, we did a lot of interviews with veterans who suffer with PTSD. I spoke to Jonathan Morris and was really touched by his story which gave me the motivation for it to be as successfful as possible.
"The main thing is to raise money for organisations that look after soldiers and veterans and also raise awareness about the mental issues these soldiers face."
Latest research shows 1 in 11 soldiers will require support either now or in the future.