Major (Retd.) Roy Brook was a Welfare Officer in the UK's Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society. His task was to visit and befriend ex-service men and women from all three UK Armed Forces and the Merchant navy. In this book, Brook shares the stories of the horrors and fears that many veterans were unable to leave behind on the battlefield. These wartime experiences continue to haunt them and disrupt their lives, as well as the lives of those close to these veterans. This 2010 revised edition is an essential guide to a wide range of battle stresses, war experiences, and mental conditions. The case histories and the types of patients examined will be of interest to the caring professions, social services, the Armed Forces, and to all families with members currently serving, or who have served, in the Armed Forces. The book includes important patient treatment, assessment, and rehabilitation strategies, as well as discussion of the formal and changing recognition of combat stress. Reviews and Endorsements: “A comprehensive, carefully researched and invaluable source of information on this important aspect of psychology and the conduct of military operations . . .” —Rt Hon Paddy Ashdown MP “Should bury, once and for all, any lingering doubts about the existence of battle stress. It brings home starkly what is perhaps not generally appreciated, that thousands of veterans, suffering varying degrees of distress as a result of service to their country, need continuing help . . . A list of useful contact addresses runs to 16 pages and there are indispensable glossaries of medical and military terminology.” —Soldier Magazine “Given its comprehensive nature and easy-to-read style we have no hesitation in recommending it.” —Scottish Legion News “The human being is a complex individual. Over the centuries it has always been recognised that soldiers, sailors and later, airmen, could be physically wounded or even killed in the line of duty. What has not been recognised until comparatively recently however is that the stress of combat could also mentally affect the serviceman resulting in a variety of different conditions, sometimes fatal. This is the second edition of a book first published in 1999 and now fully updated to include Afghanistan and Iraq. The author, Roy Brook, was an officer in the British Army who, after retirement became a welfare officer with one of the national ex-services charities. He can thus speak from a very knowledgeable viewpoint about the subject of this work. … Starting in detail from the First World War, when the results of stress tended to result in the firing squad, the author takes the reader through the Second World War and all the post-war campaigns to bring us completely up to date with Iraq and Afghanistan. As well as summarising what each conflict was about Major Brook gives us examples of individuals who have been severely mentally affected by the stress of combat. A description is given of what probably caused the problem, what resulted from this and then how the person has been helped. The work of the different help organisations is described, both government and non-government. … The aim of the work is to bring the problem of combat stress to the notice of the general public, Service and ex-Service organisations and the caring professions. The persons affected have served their country well and they are seriously in need of both financial and social support. As the author says, if no one knows, no one can care and no one can help.” —Peter Curwen, Cambridge District, Oddfellows.co.uk |
