June 2025 is PTSD awareness month across the UK, with the 27th June being the designated PTSD awareness day. This movement aims to shine a spotlight on the condition and erase the associated stigma. While the awareness month looks at PTSD sufferers in general, without a doubt, veterans are at the forefront of the movement.
It is actually quite alarming that, despite increased focus on the mental health of ex-armed forces personnel, many veterans still suffer from combat-related PTSD. While there are efforts to change the narrative around this, it still needs to be better.
This blog explores everything you need to know about PTSD in veterans, from the causes and symptoms to the types of support available and how to access it. Whether you’re a veteran yourself or someone close to one, the aim is to offer a clearer understanding of what living with PTSD can look like, why support is so important, and how to play a part in helping those affected.
What Percentage of Veterans Have PTSD?
It is difficult to establish exactly how many veterans have PTSD, as many veterans never actually come forward with their condition. Nevertheless, it is estimated that around 7% of veterans have PTSD, with this rate said to be even higher in those who served in Iraq or Afghanistan. While this may not seem like a high statistic at first glance, it is much higher than the national average, and it still equates to a sizable amount of ex-military personnel.
Causes of PTSD In Veterans
Because of the high-pressure nature of military life, veterans are frequently exposed to environments that could cause PTSD. Some of the most common causes include:
Combat Exposure
Unsurprisingly, one of the most common causes of PTSD in ex-armed forces personnel is combat exposure. This is largely because combat situations can lead to highly stressful scenarios. While we don’t always like to talk about it, being in combat situations means you are more likely to be exposed to life-threatening injuries and even death, and this increases the likelihood of developing PTSD.
Witnessing Traumatic Events
It’s not just combat exposure that can cause trauma; being part of the armed forces can increase your exposure to traumatic events such as natural disasters, life-changing accidents, war-related incidents, and even serious health problems. These high-pressure scenarios can trigger the onset of PTSD.
Military Sexual Trauma (MST)
One of the less talked about factors that could lead to PTSD is military sexual trauma, otherwise known as MST. While regulations are in place, sexual harassment or assault can still occur while in the military, and this can lead to PTSD.
Biological Factors
Certain genes and biological factors can also put individuals at higher risk of developing PTSD. While the biological aspects of developing PTSD can be complicated and complex, there is little doubt that they can make individuals more vulnerable to PTSD.
Other Factors
Personality traits, the severity of the incident, the level of support after the incident, and other factors can greatly influence the individual’s likelihood of developing PTSD.
Symptoms of PTSD in Veterans
Some symptoms of PTSD are pretty clear, while others may be more subtle and potentially go under the radar. One of the biggest concerns for family members and friends of those who have served is around the signs of PTSD in veterans and how they might notice them. Some of the most common symptoms of PTSD in veterans to look out for include:
Flashbacks & Re-experiencing the Trauma
The most well-known symptom of PTSD is flashbacks. Flashbacks can take the form of nightmares, vivid thoughts, or a feeling that the traumatic event is happening again. It doesn’t matter what caused the onset of PTSD: veterans who suffer from PTSD will likely experience flashbacks, whether that involves hearing gunshots or explosions or reliving the feeling of dread involved in an accident.
Avoidance
Veterans suffering from PTSD may do everything they can to avoid discussing the event that triggered the development of PTSD. And who could blame them? No one wants to relive events that are associated with negative feelings, let alone discuss a life-changing event. Avoidance of the topic can be subtle (including the veteran changing the subject when something reminds them of the event or withdrawing from activities that remind them of it), to more noticeable signs (including outbursts when pushed on the topic of the traumatic event). It is not uncommon for PTSD sufferers to avoid images, audio reminders (such as loud or sudden noises) and locations associated with the incident.
Being Hypersensitive
Veterans who are experiencing PTSD may find themselves in a state of hypersensitivity, where they are in a constant state of alertness, being ready to act if the worst were to happen. This may include reacting harshly to sudden loud noises or being unable to concentrate on certain tasks, as they find themselves thinking of their traumatic event.
General Negativity, Especially Around the Incident
Veterans living with PTSD may experience general feelings of negativity, especially when it comes to the inciting incident. These negative feelings can manifest in serious illnesses like anxiety and depression.
Becoming Detached & Pushing People Away
Those suffering from PTSD will usually require more care and support during their struggles. However, it is not uncommon for PTSD sufferers to do the complete opposite. Veterans with PTSD may push family members and loved ones away. This may happen for many reasons, including not wanting to feel like a burden, insecurities with how they are feeling, and feeling like they want to protect their loved ones. It can also come from mental exhaustion. The intense feelings that ex-armed forces feel can lead to overworking in an attempt to conceal or avoid the topic. This can sometimes lead to outbursts. This shouldn’t need to be the case. Veterans deserve all the support available, and many loved ones are ready and willing to offer it.
Getting Help As A Veteran
Getting help as a veteran who suffers from PTSD may seem very daunting, but there are actually many great support programs out there. Some of the many support programs available for ex-armed forces members include:
Helplines and Charities
Some of the best support out there takes the form of different organisations dedicated to veteran welfare. Organisations such as:
- Combat Stress
- Help for Heroes
- The Royal British Legion
- Phoenix Heroes
- PTSD Resolution
- SSAFA
- Launchpad
- PTSDUK
Accompanying these brilliant organisations is a plethora of different services and support from the NHS.
Therapy
Therapy has proven to be one of the effective and best ways to treat PTSD. There can sometimes be stigma around starting therapy, but there really shouldn’t be, and with more and more people starting therapy every day, the stigma eases accordingly. Some of the most effective types of therapy include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR).
Medication
Sometimes therapy isn’t quite enough to treat PTSD. As such, doctors or medical professionals may prescribe medications to help with more severe symptoms.
Support Groups and Helplines
One of the most important things to remember is that help and support are always available. There are all manner of local veteran support groups and helplines available 24/7.
Legal Rights
If you have PTSD in the UK, you can usually claim disability benefits under the Equality Act 2010 if the condition has a long-term, substantial, or adverse effect on your day-to-day life. Furthermore, if you feel like you have been discriminated against because of your PTSD, or if you have suffered from the PTSD due to someone’s negligence, you can usually make a claim.
At Veterans For Veterans, we are a team of ex-army personnel who specialise in helping veterans receive the compensation they deserve. We’ve stood in those shoes before and fully understand the challenges that can come with them. We also have a lot of experience in helping veterans through the turbulent claiming process. It is this experience, along with our background as ex-military, that positions us expertly to help veterans secure the compensation they deserve.
Whether you’re a veteran or supporting one, be sure to check in on them, especially during this PTSD month, and if you need support or assistance in making a military claim, be sure to contact us today.