An increasing number of veterans are seeking help for combat stress, according to new research.

The number of ex-military personnel seeking help for post-traumatic stress (PTSD) has risen by over a quarter (26 per cent) and this figure is continuing to increase.

There has also been a significant rise in the number of Afghanistan and Iraq veterans seeking help for disorders, according to the charity Combat Stress.

It revealed that it deals with six new veterans asking for help each day and is at its busiest in its 96-year-history.

The charity has also treated veterans with specialist PTSD residential programmes, which it claims can significantly reduce the severity of the disease.

It said that the vast majority (87 per cent) saw a reduction in their PTSD symptoms. This improvement was maintained at their six-month follow-up.

Speaking about the findings, Dr Dominic Murphy a spokesman of Combat Stress and author of the BMJ Open paper, said: “This study demonstrates great improvements in Veterans suffering from PTSD during and, importantly, after treatment with Combat Stress. This shows we can effectively reduce their PTSD symptoms – such as flashbacks – and also reduce depression, anxiety and anger problems. 

"The results also show significant improvements in areas such as ability to work and fit into the community. Overall this means a real improvement in quality of life for these Veterans and, by extension, their families.”

In total, it has received 2,264 referrals for PTSD in 2014/15.

According to the charity, more veterans are seeking help sooner. Furthermore, it revealed that it has worked with 6,000 ex-service personnel from all conflicts since the Second World War.ADNFCR-2867-ID-801782665-ADNFCR

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