FOCUS ON VETERANS 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.
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et 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.
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“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. 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.”
I wanted to change things for people in my position and to help others.