Published: 5th July 2025
The journey from trauma to triumph is never straightforward, but for UK veterans dealing with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), countless stories of recovery and resilience illuminate the path forward. While recent research reveals that one in ten UK veterans now live with probable PTSD, nearly three times the rate of the general public, these statistics tell only part of the story. Behind each number lies a human being with the potential for profound healing and growth.
At Veterans in Action, we believe that every veteran’s journey matters, and that with the right support, understanding, and community, recovery is not just possible, it’s happening every day across Britain. Today, we share some of these remarkable stories of transformation, demonstrating that whilst the road may be challenging, hope and healing are very real.
Before celebrating these victories, it’s important to acknowledge the scale of the challenge. The King’s Centre for Military Health Research’s 2024 study paints a sobering picture: 11% of UK veterans are living with probable PTSD, rising to 18% among those who served in combat roles in Iraq or Afghanistan. For the first time, researchers have also measured Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) in this population, finding it affects 14% of combat veterans, a condition that often presents more intricate challenges than single-incident PTSD.
These aren’t just statistics; they represent our brothers and sisters in arms who have given so much in service to our country. But within these numbers lies an equally important truth: recovery is happening, lives are being rebuilt, and veterans are finding their way back to purpose, connection, and joy.
Neil Davies’s story exemplifies the long journey many veterans face before finding help, and the remarkable transformation possible when the right support finally arrives. After leaving the Parachute Regiment at 19 with a spinal injury and undiagnosed PTSD, Neil spent decades battling what he described as his “own madness.”
For most of his adult life, Neil felt “tossed this way and that,” moving from job to job and country to country, driven by an “urgent desire to keep travelling, keep one step ahead, running from the unrecognised effect of trauma.” His life was characterised by cycles of hyper-alertness and manic activity spiralling into exhausted depression, leading him to cut himself off from others and engage in long solo journeys.
The turning point came when Neil, at 60 and desperate for sleeping pills due to flashbacks, was referred to the NHS Veterans’ Clinic at St Pancras Hospital. Despite initial panic at the thought of confronting buried memories, he found the clinic to be a “revelation.” Over a year of therapy, he began to understand his symptoms as an automatic response system to trauma, deeply embedded in his teenage brain during months of combat alertness.
This understanding was “liberating,” allowing Neil to “audit my life, small steps, to understand many of my mistakes and weird responses to life’s journey.” His uneasiness in crowds and simmering anger now had context. He could “talk to my teenage soldier self; understanding flowed and the world lost its hidden threats.”
Post-therapy, Neil discovered a passion for creativity that has transformed his life. He “couldn’t stop” writing, finishing and publishing his fictional novel ‘Falling Soldiers,’ which explores injury and PTSD through narrative. He joined the Soldiers Arts Academy, connecting with other veterans and collectively addressing similar issues. He has performed at Shakespeare’s Globe on Remembrance Sunday and is now writing, acting, and healing with NWLive, developing a play about life after PTSD.
Neil’s journey demonstrates that it’s never too late to seek help, and that understanding trauma can unlock not just healing, but entirely new chapters of creativity and purpose.
Rhys Thurtell’s story is one of the most powerful testimonies to the life-saving impact of timely intervention through Op COURAGE, the NHS specialist mental health service for veterans. After joining the Army at 17 and serving in the Royal Anglian Regiment, including combat in Afghanistan where he witnessed horrific events and received a bravery award for saving a critically injured friend, Rhys’s mental health began to deteriorate.
Upon returning from Afghanistan, his family noticed he “wasn’t the same,” exhibiting erratic behaviour and feeling like he was “going at 100mph all the time.” Despite being promoted to Corporal, he lost interest in the Army. Rhys tried to hide his deteriorating mental health for years, fearing judgement from his peers as a “top soldier” and award winner.
After leaving the Army in 2013, Rhys’s condition worsened dramatically. He struggled to work, became a recluse, and descended into alcohol and drug misuse, culminating in multiple suicide attempts. He “hated who I had become,” experiencing overwhelming depression, anxiety, and self-harm.
His turning point came in December 2022 when he woke up from a coma in hospital after a suicide attempt. He decided to “turn my life around” and was connected with Op COURAGE. Rhys describes the service as “life-changing,” stating emphatically: “Without Op COURAGE and without the support they gave me I wouldn’t be here.”
His support worker, Dave Rose, recognised his willingness to change and provided the “drive, stability and structure” needed. Today, Rhys has a home, runs his father’s building business’s plastering and rendering division, and dedicates time to his children, the gym, and meditation. He’s working with the Armed Forces Para-Snowsport Team Supporting Wounded Veterans and launching a personal development and mindset coaching company called PTSD2POWER.
Rhys’s message to other men struggling with mental health is powerful: seek help and never give up. He challenges the stigma that labels men as “weak or incompetent” for seeking help, asserting that “that must change in order to save lives.” He now manages his mental health daily through conscious positive self-talk, exercise, and meditation, encouraging others to “dream big, be brave, and fight on.”
Stacey’s story highlights the often-overlooked impact of trauma on women veterans and the additional challenges they face in seeking recognition and support. As a Health Care Assistant in the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC), Stacey served on numerous tours to active war zones, providing nursing care to injured individuals regardless of their affiliation.
The emotional toll of witnessing suffering, particularly of children the same age as her own three daughters, had a profound effect on her. Stacey began experiencing PTSD symptoms as early as 2003 during her first tour of Iraq, though she wasn’t diagnosed until 2014 after giving birth to her daughter Teddy Rose, a full decade later.
The severity of her symptoms, including anger towards patients who complained despite having their limbs intact, led her to realise she needed help. However, Stacey faced significant stigma, with people questioning how she could have PTSD if she wasn’t on the “front line.” She also felt her gender contributed to this stigma, stating: “I never feel like a veteran as you only see men in the headlines. It still feels like a man’s world to me.”
Her recovery journey was significantly aided by the Royal British Legion’s Battle Back Centre, a specialist facility for wounded, injured, and sick serving and ex-serving personnel. Despite initial reluctance, Stacey found camaraderie and enjoyment in activities like climbing and clay shooting, feeling “like we’d been friends for years.”
This experience led her to embrace exercise as a coping mechanism, finding that even a short daily walk could make her “feel amazing.” Stacey’s story demonstrates that recovery is possible regardless of gender or role, and that her life is now “ten times better” than before.
The stories of Mark Colman and Ian ‘Chalky’ White illustrate how Veterans in Action’s unique approach to Post-Traumatic Growth can transform lives through peer support and purposeful activity.
Mark Colman, a former Royal Engineer, became involved with VIA in 2010 after his life took a turn for the worse. Fundraising and participating in a Union Flag Walk from Cape Wrath to Land’s End proved immensely helpful. As Mark explains: “walking and talking with other veterans with similar stories was a great help in understanding how I was feeling.” He regained control of his life through this experience.
Even after a setback in 2019 due to family problems, VIA helped him get back on track. Mark now successfully owns and runs his own courier business, demonstrating sustained recovery and the power of ongoing community support.
Ian ‘Chalky’ White, a former 17th/21st Lancers and B Sqn 22 SAS veteran, found renewed focus and purpose through VIA’s “Veterans In Focus” project. Struggling with depression and feelings of worthlessness, he discovered that helping VIA and using his military and post-service skills in filming expeditions provided the motivation and self-gratification he had been missing.
He realised that working hand-in-hand with fellow veterans on projects advanced his mental well-being, finding “strength from weakness” and an “awakening” in the recognition that what helps others often helps him. This demonstrates the powerful principle at the heart of VIA’s mission: “we help ourselves by helping others.”
Craig’s story, shared by Combat Stress, demonstrates how creative therapies can unlock unexpected pathways to healing. With 23 years of service including tours in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan, Craig was diagnosed with PTSD in November 2015. His symptoms led to aggression, night terrors, and alcohol misuse, eventually resulting in homelessness.
After seeking help from the Combat Stress Helpline and securing accommodation with help from The Royal British Legion, Craig attended a two-week residential course at Combat Stress in April 2016. It was there, through occupational therapy, that he discovered pottery making.
During his subsequent six-week PTSD Intensive Treatment Programme, Craig continued to engage with pottery, finding it a relaxing distraction that helped reduce his anxiety and keep him from drinking. He even gained confidence by teaching other veterans how to throw pots.
Pottery became central to his recovery, filling his flat with creations and leading him to connect with others who shared his interest, combating isolation. He is now pursuing a City and Guilds course in ceramics.
Craig’s transformation is captured in his own words: “I’ve lost everything but I’m happy with what I have now. I still have up and down days but I now have plenty of tools to help me. I’d never have thought working with clay could help me so much but thanks to Combat Stress, I’ve discovered it and it’s changed my life.”
These personal stories of recovery are being supported by groundbreaking research that offers even greater hope for the future. King’s College London is leading pioneering UK trials of MDMA-assisted therapy, sponsored by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) and co-funded by Supporting Wounded Veterans. The initial UK trial phase, which began in 2022, demonstrated that this treatment was safe and feasible for UK veterans with severe PTSD.
Additionally, researchers are developing faster and more effective talking therapies. A recent UK study funded by Forces in Mind Trust explored a therapy called Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories (RTM), which produced remarkable results: participants saw large reductions in PTSD scores, and almost half (48%) of veterans no longer had a PTSD diagnosis 20 weeks after therapy. The therapy was brief, requiring only 2-4 sessions, with no adverse effects reported.
These promising findings have led to a larger £1.9 million study of an improved version called Fast Imagery Reversal Script for Trauma-release (FIRST), offering hope for rapid, non-distressing, and accessible treatment.
What unites all these success stories is the concept of Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG), the positive psychological changes that can occur as a result of struggling with trauma. PTG doesn’t suggest that trauma is beneficial, but rather that the process of overcoming it can lead to profound positive transformation.
Researchers have identified five key areas where veterans often experience growth:
PTG can coexist with PTSD, managing trauma symptoms is often the crucial first step that creates the foundation for building a stronger future.
These success stories wouldn’t be possible without the robust network of support available to UK veterans. Combat Stress provides specialist treatment and a 24/7 helpline (0800 138 1619), while Op COURAGE offers NHS specialist mental health services staffed by professionals with military experience or extensive veteran care expertise.
The Royal British Legion provides lifelong support including their Battle Back Centre, and organisations like Veterans in Action offer unique approaches to Post-Traumatic Growth through expeditions, team-building, and peer support. The UK Veterans Hearing Foundation addresses the specific needs of veterans with hearing loss and tinnitus, while Blind Veterans UK supports those who have lost their sight.
What makes these services effective is their understanding that recovery is not a one-size-fits-all process. Some veterans find healing through traditional therapy, others through creative expression, physical challenges, peer support, or purposeful work. The key is having options and finding what works for each individual.
These stories share common themes that offer hope to any veteran currently struggling:
It’s never too late to seek help: Neil Davies found support at 60 after decades of struggle. Recovery can begin at any stage of life.
You are not alone: Every story demonstrates the power of connection—whether with professional support workers, fellow veterans, or family members who understand.
Recovery takes many forms: From Neil’s creative renaissance to Craig’s pottery, from Rhys’s business success to Mark’s entrepreneurial journey, there’s no single path to healing.
Setbacks don’t mean failure: Mark Colman experienced a relapse but got back on track with support. Recovery is often a journey with ups and downs, not a straight line.
Your service matters: Stacey’s experience shows that all forms of military service can be traumatic, and all veterans deserve recognition and support.
Helping others helps yourself: The principle at the heart of Veterans in Action, that we help ourselves by helping others—runs through many of these stories.
At Veterans in Action, we see these success stories not as exceptions, but as examples of what’s possible when veterans receive the right support at the right time. Our ALIVE programme (Achieve, Learn, Inspire, Value, Experience) is designed to foster exactly this kind of Post-Traumatic Growth through long-term, peer-supported projects and expeditions.
Whether it’s through our “Build It” vehicle preparation projects, “Use It” expeditions across Europe, “Make It” creative workshops, “Film It” media training, or our Veterans Walk & Talk sessions, we provide a safe environment where veterans can work at their own pace, learn new skills, and rediscover their sense of purpose and belonging.
The statistics about PTSD prevalence among UK veterans are sobering, but they don’t define us. What defines us is our capacity for resilience, growth, and mutual support. Every veteran who finds their way back to health and purpose becomes a beacon of hope for others still struggling.
If you’re a veteran reading this and recognising yourself in these struggles, please know that help is available and recovery is possible. Whether through Veterans in Action, Combat Stress, Op COURAGE, or any of the other excellent organisations supporting our community, you don’t have to face this alone.
Your service mattered. Your struggle is real. Your recovery is possible. And your future can be brighter than you might currently imagine.
If you or someone you know needs support:
Remember: seeking help is not a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength and the first step towards reclaiming your life.
Veterans in Action is a registered charity (No. 1128026) dedicated to fostering Post-Traumatic Growth among UK veterans through long-term, peer-supported projects and expeditions. Our mission is to improve the mental, physical, and social well-being of veterans by providing a safe environment where they can achieve, learn, inspire, value their contributions, and experience new possibilities.
For more information about Veterans in Action and our programmes, visit our website or contact us directly. Together, we can turn struggle into strength and trauma into triumph.
I needed focus I needed something to fill my time, well maybe not fill my time but something to focus on like a target, a needed to get back my drive.
I started to help VIA ‘Veterans In Action’ and found something that I could do, use the old skills that I learnt in the army and more since I left which I did not register I had.
I had been missing that motivation to do something that I wanted to do and gain that level of self-gratification and achievement.
Everybody has a skill set, but it’s the motivation to use it we can lose, VIA have various projects on the go all the time, hopefully I have found my niche to help them and myself to gain personal gratification by being a member of a team again and a job well done.
After discussions I realised that it’s this which advances my mental well-being and my ongoing fight against depression and the feeling of worthlessness.
I have woken up, helping hand in hand with fellow soldiers suffering from labelled disorders finding strength from weakness, realising what helps them generally does helps me, the recognition has been an awakening.”
Ian ‘Chalky’ White former 17th/21st Lancers and B Sqn 22 SAS
Veterans In Action have been filming our expeditions for many years for our YouTube Channel, Veterans Expeditions Overland, and through this experience of not only running the expeditions but also capturing footage that enables veterans who have taken part in a place of reference to recapture how they felt by taking part.
The Veterans In Focus project enables veterans to learn new skills and record not only the expeditions we run but also the day-to-day work on all projects connecting them all together so everyone feels involved in all aspects of the work we do.
VIA take a long-term approach to helping veterans who suffer to enable them to grow within a project working alongside their peers. All this can be achieved within this project which can be ongoing and would allow veterans to learn new skills or to pass on skills learned during their time in the services
Some of the outcomes of the project are a sense of purpose, regaining confidence and working in an environment alongside other veterans where they can instantly feel relaxed, chilled-out, secure, and safe.
Veterans can work at their own pace, stop thinking negatively, concentrate, learn new skills, be part of building something, and most importantly where problems are understood this will positively impact mood and stress levels.
For those involved in the project, they can also get involved on an expedition HERE
I became involved with VIA in 2010 after my life took a turn for the worse and was invited along to do some fundraising with them. This helped me no end and in time my life got back on track. I completed a Union Flag Walk with them from Cape Wrath to Land’s End which again helped as walking and talking with other veterans with similar stories was a great help in understanding how I was feeling. I gained control of my life again.
In 2019, I took part in an overland expedition travelling through the Spanish Pyrenees and whilst away my life took a turn for the worse again due to family problems back in the UK. On my return I had to start again and rebuild and focus on the future and with the help of Veterans In Action I got back on track and took control.
I now own and run my own courier business.
Mark Colman former Royal Engineers
To date, we have travelled 25,000 miles travelling through 30 different countries and some of them several times both on overland expeditions for humanitarian aid through the pandemic and more recently supplying medical humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
It is important to note that to take part in one of our overland expeditions we insist that veterans get involved in the BUILD IT part of the project. The reason for this is part of the Post Traumatic Growth process which is our method for helping veterans so that veterans can grow within a team of their peers, learning new skills and relearning old skill sets that may have been forgotten after service.
Leading up to an expedition involves expedition training which will include off-road driving, navigation, camp setups, camp cooking and daily maintenance, something most veterans will understand from their time in the services.
It would be unfair for any individual to turn up on the day of an expedition who hadn’t previously been involved as everyone else would have been working together over a long period of time so due to the very nature of the mental health problems of those we take out on expedition turning up on day 1 for any individual could become very difficult to find where they fit in no matter how welcoming everyone was.
It is the involvement long-term on building the vehicles that enable veterans to grow that gets them to a place where they fully enjoy all aspects of the expedition experience starting from the minute that an overland expedition sets off.