The injured mind in the UK Armed Forces

Abstract

The mental health of the UK Armed Forces is a topic much debated by healthcare professionals, politicians and the media.While the current operations in Afghanistan, and the recent conflict in Iraq, are relevant to this debate, much of what is known about the effects of war upon the psyche still derives from the two World Wars. This paper will examine the historical and contemporary evidence about why it is that some Service personnel suffer psychological injuries during their military service and others do not. The paper will also consider some of the strategies that today's Armed Forces have put in place to mitigate the effects of sending military personnel into danger. © 2011 The Royal Society.