“I became very stressed and I was struggling with drinking”
One veteran, Paul, who lives in Larne, first joined Road Map to Recovery around a year ago.(Image: Justin Kernoghan/Belfast Live)
A local mental health charity says its dedicated veterans’ support programme provides a lifeline to a group of individuals whose needs aren’t being met by mainstream mental health services.
Statistics from the Northern Ireland census in 2021 estimated that there are between 40,000 and 60,000 Armed Forces veterans living in Northern Ireland. Road Map to Recovery, is a network of support groups, led by veterans, for veterans.
Initially established by Inspire Wellbeing, there are now peer support groups led by volunteers in Derry, Newtownards, Larne and Moorbrook Lodge near Articlave and they are encouraging veterans, or their loved ones, to get in touch.
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One veteran, Paul, who lives in Larne, first joined Road Map to Recovery around a year ago. He now leads the Larne group and has also gone on to establish a second local group specifically for the loved ones of veterans.
Paul said after leaving the forces, he began to struggle in life, and felt “very much on your own”.
“I left the forces in 2015 after a 20 year career,” he said.
“The signs of trauma didn’t show until 2019, when I experienced a lot of disruption, I had trouble holding down a job, my relationships were affected, I became very stressed and I was struggling with drinking.
“It was recognised as PTSD but there was very little in the way of local specialist support. You’re very much on your own and that’s actually one of the worst feelings – you’re totally isolated and there’s nobody who really understands how you’re feeling. My wife heard about Inspire and put me in touch with Michael.”
Members of Road Map to Recovery say the group provides the much-needed connection to a small, trusted group of others who they feel they can open up to.
Paul continued: “Although everyone’s experiences in the forces may have been different, the feelings of loneliness are the same and the end results all seem to end up in the same place, or worse.
“Through experiencing personal loss close to me, I’ve realised that the only people veterans will open up to is other veterans. The group members know how you’re feeling – you don’t have to spell it out. We can talk and they understand. There’s no judgment, they’re not analysing you. Knowing they are there as a constant when nothing else is makes it a little easier. We can act as a network for each other.
“We meet every two weeks and I think of it like a glass that can overflow as anxiety, stress and the pressures of life build up. The meetings help me to empty the glass a bit and in the two weeks in between, there’s room for it to fill up again. That is the difference between coping with life and not coping – the group creates the space to live your life.”
Michael Donaldson, programme co-ordinator at Inspire, said the Road Map to Recovery programme was originally set up to help veterans who were struggling with their mental health.
“Having tried to access support through general mental health services, many told us they felt the mainstream services could only do so much,” he added.
“Without a dedicated service, they were left feeling very isolated and alone, with no one to turn to who truly understood their needs. What we’ve seen is that many ex-servicemen and women have tried to close off from difficult thoughts and feelings, which can store up problems and lead to difficulties in everyday life.
“They told us they needed a safe and confidential space to talk openly about their experiences and find others who they could relate to and trust, others that, to put it quite simply “get it!”. The is why these peer-led support groups were established.
“Inspire has provided the structures to get the groups up and running but the whole concept is now the groups are established, the members will take it forward themselves.”
Michael continued: “The group members know that we are here if they need extra help, or access to other services. While they are self-supporting, they’re never on their own, so it works well. Many of our referrals come from loved ones: mothers, wives, brothers or children. I would say to anyone who thinks they, or someone close to them, could benefit from being part of this veterans support, get in touch with us to find your nearest group . Or just simply ring me for a good honest confidential chat.”
To find out more about the Road Map to Recovery group in your local area, call or email Inspire on their Infoline 0808 189 0036 or hello@inspirewellbeing.org.
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