Falklands war veterans have high suicide rate

A shockingly high number of veterans of the Falklands war have killed themselves, it emerged yesterday, when one veteran suggested that the suicide figure was almost half of the number of soldiers who died during the conflict.

It is believed that seven men who served in the Falklands have killed themselves this year alone. Some have been suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) while others have simply been unable to cope with the reality of life outside the forces. Many have become caught up in alcoholism, drug abuse, homelessness, family break-up and crime.

One Falklands military association official said yesterday: "I am pretty sure we are well on our way to a figure of suicides that is half of that for the number who died in the war."

The number of British servicemen killed in the Falklands was 256. Even the most conservative estimates for post-war suicides put the figure at more than 100. One Welsh guardsman who survived the Bluff Cove Sir Galahad disaster was forced to sell his cooker to buy food only days before he hanged himself.

Another Welsh guardsman hanged himself in his father's home last Remembrance Sunday, symbolically timing his death for the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. And a serving sergeant in the parachute regiment, who fought with 2nd Para at Goose Green, tried to gas himself in his car and failed. He later handcuffed one hand to the car's steering wheel, doused himself with petrol and set himself ablaze, dying in agony. He was 40.

Denzil Connick, a lance corporal in 3rd Para gravely wounded in the battle of Mount Longdon and secretary and co-founder of the South Atlantic Medal Association 82, said: "Apart from the suicides there are more Falklands veterans compared with any other section of the community in prison, jobless, alcoholics, divorced and abusing drugs. Their lives are a shambles and they drink and use drugs, treat their families badly, steal to fund drinking and drugs, get caught and go to prison.

"They need help and they are not getting it. We need the government and the MoD to do something about this and we are campaigning for that."

Mr Connick said people in command in the armed forces should be made more aware of post traumatic stress and taught how to recognise its symptoms, and how to act on them.

"There is no safety net for them and all soldiers suffer the stigma that if they tell officers that they suspect they have a mental problem they are disclosing a weakness and that could affect their careers. So they won't," he said.

"Britain as a whole is so slow at catching up with the way the Israelis and the Americans deal with this issue.

"There still are some quite senior officers who completely shun the whole issue. They think it is all poppycock and a complete waste of time and money."

Last night Jeremy Lillies, of the British Legion, said: "The legion is sorry to hear of suicides among Falklands veterans and will be glad to help their families in any way it can. Any veteran with problems can come to the legion for help at any time."

Lieutenant Colonel Bryan Gordan Smith of the help group Combat Stress currently treating some Falklands veterans said most of those suffering from post traumatic stress disorder could be treated.

He added: "A small proportion show chronic disorder over many years and in the most extreme circumstances PTSD can lead to suicide if treatment is not forthcoming."

· Tony Flint, a Gulf war veteran, yesterday set up camp outside the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall in protest against the government's refusal to recognise claims that his illnessses and those of hundreds of other vets were caused by a cocktail of vaccines they were given and exposure to depleted uranium used in shells, writes Richard Norton-Taylor.

He was also protesting against the failure of the war pensions agency to give them benefits. The agency has described the vets' claims as "politically sensitive".

Mr Flint, 53, a medic in the Gulf war, said he suffered from post traumatic stress disorder, asthma, and kidney problems.

He was accompanied by Brian Tooze, 49, a former Royal Engineer involved in mine clearance.

He has developed skin cancer, night sweats and also suffers from muscular problems.