HELPING HEROES BY JACKIE RANKIN

Nurse Laura Knowles’ proudest moment was taking part at the 2016 Invictus Games in Florida. With a silver and bronze in rowing, the 25 year old was on top of the world.

Yet earlier that year she’d been medically discharged from the Army with mental health issues.

As a young talented musician – she plays saxophone and clarinet – Laura planned to study music. But with a mental health nurse mum and a dad in the RAF, she was torn between nursing and the armed forces.

The forces won, and though initially rejected by her local Army reserves because she didn’t meet the physical health criteria, Laura took a year out, trained hard and joined the Band of the Welsh Guards.

She enjoyed regiment life, performing at the Trooping of Colour Parade and Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace. But following traumatic life events Laura developed anxiety, depression, and a recurrence of bulimia.

The camps are incredible. I’d forgotten how special this environment was.

She recalls the stigma that still existed in the forces. “Some colleagues would cross the road when they saw me, so they didn’t have to talk about it.”

A year later Laura was medically discharged. She was supported by Help for Heroes and went on to represent Team UK for the Invictus Games, an international sporting event for wounded, injured and sick service men and women. It was while talking to other athletes she discovered she wasn’t alone in her mental health struggles.

“Most people had physical disabilities but when we talked, so many had mental health issues too,” she recalls. “I understood how important mental health is and realised my future was in mental health nursing. I wanted to change things for people in my position and to be able to help others.”

With support from Help the Heroes, therapy and the ‘right medication’, Laura began a journey of recovery and fulfilment.

While studying for a nursing degree at Liverpool John Moores University, her passion for supporting disabled students to access their entitlements saw her involved in shaping policy. She’s twice been shortlisted for accolades in the Nursing Times student awards.

I wanted to change things for people in my position and to help others.

Laura is now a staff nurse on Mersey Care’s Broadoak Unit, an acute inpatient mental health facility. But she’s not done with Invictus. She’s back from a selection camp and is hoping she’ll be part of the on site medical team for the 2023 Games in Düsseldorf, this time sponsored by the Royal British Legion.

“The camps are incredible. I’d forgotten how special this environment was, for people to have a safe space where they can be themselves without fear of judgement and appreciate the power sport can have in recovery for both your mental and physical health.”

WE OWE IT TO OUR VETERANS

Coronation Street star and Help for Heroes patron Antony Cotton is backing a new suicide awareness training for veterans.

Coronation Street star Antony Cotton

The training teaches people how to spot the signs that a veteran might be feeling suicidal and signpost them to the right support.

Antony, who plays Sean Tully in the ITV soap, lost his friend and veteran Joel to suicide.

“If we can change the culture, we can discuss mental health, we can arm ourselves better so that we’re approaching the subject weeks, months, years before,” he said. “Silence is a disease. Talking is the cure. We owe it to our veterans to help them.”

For more information: Take the veteran training –zerosuicidealliance.com/veteran-suicide-awareness-training Support the between the lines campaign –helpforheroes.org.uk/between-the-lines/useful-resources/

Research carried out by YouGov on behalf of Help for Heroes revealed one in three of the UK’s two million veterans* have felt suicidal in their lifetime.**

Veterans who are struggling with suicidal thoughts are more likely to turn to family and friends for support than a trained professional.**

Zero Suicide Alliance has launched the training with Help For Heroes through the charity’s ‘Read between the Lines’ suicide prevention initiative.

ROB'S STORY

In 2013, Rob was about to end his life when he remembered an old note in his wallet with messages of support from his friends. It saved his life. The former army officer shares his story as part of the campaign. “It is important for your friends to spot things and check in from time to time,” he said. “Even if it’s just talking to someone on the phone that can lift your spirits in my personal experience.

“Taking the training is really important. It could be one week, one month, one year where you suddenly come across somebody where that training is going to come into use. But if you’ve got that training, it will really help. And in terms of really help, let’s be honest, it could save somebody’s life.”

Ministry of Defence (2019) Research by YouGov Plc into mental health and suicide in the GB adult population and the Armed Forces Community. July 2022, total sample size of 8346 adults, including 455 veterans.