RECENT news that disabled war veterans are being are being ‘humiliated’ by the benefits crackdown is distressing.

Combat Stress, like many charities working with injured military veterans, has heard stories from those we treat regarding the reassessment process.

The veterans we work with are proud, brave, honourable men and women who are living with mental wounds as a result of their military service. They want to work, but the trauma they have suffered prevents this, and they often find it difficult to reliably undertake even small everyday tasks. A trip to the shops or a knock at the door can raise anxiety levels and trigger flashbacks to their traumatic experiences.

Being reassessed by ATOS significantly increases anxiety and can slow or even reverse the recovery process. All of our veterans have been in full-time employment but the journey back can be difficult and protracted.

On a similar note, last week a High Court ruling stated that the reassessment process put those with mental health problems at a substantial disadvantage, and subsequently people could be unwilling to report their condition due to “shame or fear of discrimination”.

Stigma around mental health plays a major role in the armed forces community, and with an average 13-year time lag between a veteran leaving the armed forces and seeking our help for mental illhealth, stigma is already damaging too many lives for too long. We ask ATOS and the Department of Work and Pensions to ensure that psychological injuries be given the same consideration as physical wounds. A lack of understanding can perpetuate the suffering of those brave veterans who have managed to seek help.

The Government, through the Armed Forces Covenant, has a duty of care to support those brave men and women who have put their lives on the line in the service of this country and have been injured as a result. We all have a duty to ensure that reassessment of mentally wounded ex-service personnel is conducted in an enlightened, fair and just way.

If you or a loved one are an armed forces veteran and may be suffering mental ill-health as a result of military service, call our 24-hour helpline on 0800 138 1619.

COMMODORE ANDREW CAMERON, Chief Executive, Combat Stress.