Shocking figures reveal war zone veterans make up 70 per cent of Armed Forces suicides

THE majority of suicides in the Armed Forces are by war zone veterans, it has been revealed.

The Sunday People reported 70 per cent of cases in the Army over six years were soldiers with front line battlefield experience.

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In 2013, 87 per cent of suicide victims in the Armed Forces were troops who had been in Iraq or Afghanistan - the highest rate recorded during the period.

And the stats, released after a parliamentary question, reveal as many as 189 Armed Forces members have committed suicide since 2002.

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The Army saw the most suicides of all three services - as the worrying figures raise concerns about post-traumatic stress disorder in members of the Armed Forces.

An Army officer told The Sunday People: “If a link between serving in war zones, PTSD and suicide can be proven, there is a big problem.”

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson added: “Suicide rates in the Armed Forces are lower overall than in the general population, with a clear downward trend in the past 20 years.

“The mental health of our people is of the utmost importance, which is why we provide a variety of support.”

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