Leaving huge scars

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event. According to research, one in 10 people in the UK are expected to experience PTSD at some point in their lives and unfortunately for Associate Director of Estates, Fleet and Facilities Management Neil Maher (who has now retired) and Paramedic Paul Dunbar, they have experienced it.

Neil Maher was part of our green family for 20 years but before he embarked on his ambulance career, he dedicated 10 years of service to the army. During his time in the forces, Neil witnessed a lot of upsetting things, but the Falklands Conflict was something that will never leave him. He said, “I was a young 23-year-old soldier commanding a detachment of even younger soldiers, aged 18 –21. Unfortunately, during a task, six of my colleagues were killed. One was a bright, young man, a friend, who had just gotten married the day before we shipped out. It was a horrible and tragic death and looking back now, I believe was the moment that triggered my PTSD.”

Paramedic Paul Dunbar has spent nearly 20 years doing a job he loves but unfortunately, last year the stress of the job became too much. He explained: “In February last year, I attended a really awful road traffic collision. The passenger had died in such a horrible way. I came away feeling very stressed and angry and I couldn’t alleviate any of the emotions. But I carried on and it was a couple of shifts later that I finally broke on a job. The patient had tipped all their pills into a cup intent on taking their own life. They’d called us before taking them and that was the final straw. I realised

I needed serious help because, in that patient, I could see myself. I went off sick after that job and I haven’t been back working in an ambulance since.”

Both Neil and Paul are now both on the road to recovery after confiding in friends and family and sourcing professional help and want to highlight the importance of this. Neil said, “I learned the hard way and it took 25 years before I got help. I don’t want anyone else to feel like that. We now know so much more about PTSD, there is so much support out there so take it.”

Paul, who has now returned to work in a different role, said: “The fear that became all-encompassing during the last 12 months was almost unbearable. But I’m out the other side now. I don’t feel like a broken person, but I am changed, and I am still working on myself. I would ask all my colleagues to talk about issues they are struggling to reconcile. There are plenty of us in the job who have either been through this or know someone who has. Talk to us, to me. We’re not counsellors, but we can listen and maybe support.”

If you are struggling, confide in loved ones or seek support from your GP.