Football legend Terry Butcher wants more mental health support for military veterans

England football legend Terry Butcher (Image: Getty)

England football legend Terry Butcher wants more support for military veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and mental ill health.

The former Ipswich Town and Rangers defender, famed for his bravery on the pitch, wants to see specialist treatment centres for soldiers to be set up like those in America.

Terry, 65, who has been a long term champion of ex-forces personnel, lost his son Chris, to PTSD in 2017 when he was just 35.

An inquest later heard how Chris, who served as a Captain with the Royal Artillery and fought the Taliban in Afghanistan, had been a “victim of war”.

On November 16 Terry will host a Christmas gala dinner in Woodbridge, Suffolk for the charity SSAFA (Soldiers', Sailors', and Airmen's Families Association).

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The event at Seckford Hall Hotel and Spa near Woodbridge aims to raise funds for the charity, and it will also be an ideal opportunity for members of the armed forces community and its supporters to come together.

Terry said much more needs to be done to support heroes like his late-son.

“Things have improved little in recent years,” said Terry, who won 77 caps in a glittering England career.

“There's a lot more charities out there now, which in itself is really sad, but the veterans and their families are heavily reliant upon them.

“Even so, we’ve got to do more to help them. It would be good to get specialist centres like the ones they have in America for PTSD sufferers and their families. That's the ultimate goal to try and get to that stage.

“It might take a while, but it’s vital to look longer term because PTSD doesn't rear its head or become apparent until possibly years after conflict.”

Looking ahead to next month’s dinner, Terry, said: “At the dinner, I'll talk about my son, and I'll talk about my family’s journey with our son. And I will talk about what the charity did for my beautiful boy. It's an important charity, and it's vital that we get the message out. It’s important that families in particular know there are people out there trying to help them.

In terms of offering advice for helping to support someone going through PTSD, Terry pointed out there are more charities now than there used to be.

He said: “A lot of charities now offer work for veterans which wasn't there before, in logistics for example, so there's more hope. But I would say to families going through this, you've got to search, keep looking and really put yourself out there. It's difficult for the families to do that, but if they can and offer help to the loved one going through a tough time then you can move forward. Contacting Op Courage, which is a bespoke NHS service for veterans, is one small step for those that suffer with life after service.”

“It’s about knowing there are people that you can speak to, there are groups who can help. What you do with PTSD, especially, is try and find coping mechanisms, and try and find a way that you can gradually get a little bit of normality in your life. But people also need to remember it's going to be a very long process. And the thing about veterans that have major problems, and severe PTSD, is they often just don't want help. They just want to be alone and self medicate with drugs and alcohol.

“It’s trying to steer them away from that and give them an opportunity. It’s important to start talking, particularly to fellow veterans and families as well. That way you build up a little group and a network that can help.”

Outlining where services are currently lacking, Terry said: “Sadly the NHS can't cope. The NHS doesn't have that understanding about military PTSD, often there's no one to look after them, and they end up having their alcohol and drugs to self medicate, which makes them dependent. It’s a vicious circle and, as a result, many veterans end up behind bars; six per cent of the prison population are veterans. So it's a real shame.”

Terry, who enjoyed a brilliant career with Ipswich Town, Rangers and Sunderland, admitted he may well have joined the forces had he not made the grade in footy.

He said: “I didn't know what I wanted to be. Yes, I wanted to be a footballer, and I played county level but I never wanted to push myself forward too much in case I was rejected. So I looked at being a Seaman Officer in the Navy. I would have loved to have been in the military, I just didn't know which part. My son went in via Sandhurst and my second son, Ed, is now a firefighter in the RAF, so he's done very well. I think it's a really big honour and we are very proud of them.”

Explaining the link between football and the Army Butcher, who now works as a UK leading Mental Health Speaker added: “it’s similar because you’re a band of brothers and all that sort of thing. But you must remember, it's not life and death with football. People go into the military because it's a chance to serve your country and help your mates and your fellow countrymen and women but our soldiers often make the ultimate sacrifice. The least we can do is to be there for them when they fall on hard times and they have to face their own battles.”

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