PTSD underdiagnosed in veterans, new research shows
New research indicates that PTSD is significantly underdiagnosed among veterans, particularly those who served in non-combat roles, highlighting gaps in mental health support.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
New research from the charity Combat Stress warns that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is significantly underdiagnosed among veterans, particularly those who served in non-combat roles. The findings highlight a gap in mental health support, with many former service members feeling their experiences were not serious enough to warrant help because they were not on the front line.
In Wiltshire, veterans are working to change that perception. A team of seven soldiers is preparing to pull a 100-kilogram sled 50 miles along Utah Beach in Normandy to raise money for Combat Stress. The challenge, which could take three days, is in memory of their friend and comrade Andrew Borthwick, who struggled with PTSD and took his own life in 2026 after a tour in 2012. One of the participants, Rome, described Borthwick as an 'old school soldier' with a 'bulletproof' mindset, whose death shocked many.
Padre Mark Christian, who served in Iraq in 2003, also shared his story. He was handed a dying child and felt powerless. The pleading look from the child's father haunted him for years. He avoided talking about the conflict until a dinner party in 2018, when a persistent guest triggered an emotional breakdown. Mark later joined a group PTSD session and now helps others begin their healing process.
The research from Combat Stress underscores that any veteran can experience military trauma, regardless of their role or length of service. The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan may be history, but the psychological wounds they left behind remain unhealed for many.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC One |
|---|---|
| Combat Stress research warns PTSD is often missed in veterans who were not in combat roles. | |
| Padre Mark Christian experienced a breakdown in 2018 after a guest discussed war-related TV at a dinner party. | |
| Veteran Andrew Borthwick died by suicide in 2026 after struggling with PTSD from a 2012 tour. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The report focuses on local veterans from Wiltshire, using personal stories to illustrate the underdiagnosis of PTSD in non-combat roles. It highlights the charity Combat Stress's research and the fundraising challenge on Utah Beach. The tone is empathetic and humanising, with a strong regional angle.
- “he's one of them old school soldiers that you think his mindset is bulletproof and he shocked a lot of people when he did that.”
- “It was obvious the child wasn't going to survive but I was powerless to do anything. But I think what really got me was the pleading look in this young girl's father's eyes as he looked at me and there was nothing I could do.”
- “I said, no, no, please don't talk about that. Just stop and he didn't, he kept going and I just exploded really. Went into the garden, broke down.”
Broadcast Timeline
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