AN ARMY VETERAN from Kidderminster is urging people to send messages of support for veterans struggling this Christmas.
As part of a campaign by Armed Forces charity, Help for Heroes – last year thousands of people sent messages of hope to isolated veterans.
Following, lots of those who received messages reached out for life changing support.
The charity have had an increase of 54 per cent of requests for support – so it is asking more members of the public to reach out.
Tim Seeley, aged 58, who lives in Kidderminster, left the army after a 10-year career, as a medic and a First Aid instructor.
He got in touch with Help for Heroes, when he was struggling to manage his PTSD and a back injury, which affected his mental health and left him isolated.
“As somebody that has been alone and homeless at Christmas, it is the most vulnerable a person can be and you feel totally alone and feel that nobody cares.
“I live on my own and this can be isolating. It can make your mental health spiral and can start you catastrophizing and ruminating, so having someone showing you are not alone can help immeasurably.”
During military service, service men and women have a strong support network and a close-knit community, but transitioning to civilian life can destroy that.
Alongside physical and mental health issues, which can prevent them from socialising, Christmas can become a time filled with dread rather than a celebration.
Tim received a Help for Heroes Christmas Card last year, he said it was an unexpected surprise and extremely heart warming.
The charity’s annual report showed that around 21,262 veterans are living in Worcestershire.
Visit the website to send a message this Christmas.
