A movement aimed at raising awareness of male PTSD

In 2007, I joined the Army as a Sapper in the Royal Engineers and in 2011-2012, I deployed (Herrick 15) as part of an IED (Bomb) Search Team and Bomb Disposal Unit.

During my deployment, we faced a lot of challenges that included having friends injured and killed, recovering body parts of other soldiers and receiving damage from mortar/rocket attacks.

One of the biggest parts of my deployment that resulted in me suffering with PTSD and depression, was a situation where a young girl around 4 years old, came to me for help as she was dying from a severely infected wound.

I called ahead on the radio to a doctor at the front of our patrol to ask for medical help, and was told to leave her there because we had a mission to complete.

This was the driving factor for me leaving the Army shortly after my deployment.

Fast forward 12+ years, I have been struggling with PTSD and depression almost daily. I have served in the Navy after leaving the Army in 2012, moving to the Navy in 2013 and left full time service in 2021.

I now have a 3 year old daughter, and with her approaching a similar age to the girl we left behind, she becomes a daily reminder of what happened.

Over the past 5-6 months I have been speaking to a lot of men who are struggling and this is the driving factor behind my GoFundMe.

I would am building a YouTube channel to go around the UK to speak to men from all backgrounds who are suffering from past trauma. Veterans, first response, vehicle accidents, losing their partner etc.

I want to speak to them all to help them get their story out and to be able to leverage my network to get the help they need.

This is my story and the reason I want to do this.

YouTube