More responsibility needed for veterans - minister
BBCThe veterans minister has said the government needs to take "more responsibility" for those who leave the armed forces.
Alistair Carns MP was visiting Teesside to meet veterans and discuss mental health after the death of Royal Marine Sam Morgan who took his own life last year.
Mr Morgan, 36, from Guisborough, near Middlesbrough, had post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and died on 29 November.
His family said he had struggled to access mental health support, despite visiting his GP and contacting some charities.
Mr Morgan faced long waiting times, a lack of in-person support and inconsistent communication.
His family want the law changed so veterans receive immediate mental health care.
Before the roundtable discussion with veterans, which was closed to the press, Luke Myer, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said he wanted to "pay tribute" to Mr Morgan's family.
"It must be so difficult the pain that you are under," he said. "But to be able to take that pain and channel it into a campaign for change is pretty extraordinary."
Luke Myer MPMyer said there were "around 1,700 well-meaning, good charities" but it was "so confusing for veterans who are looking for help".
"There's some positive movements in our area, to try and consolidate and communicate that landscape for veterans," he added.
Carns, a veteran himself, said the government "needs to take more responsibility for veterans when they leave [service]".
"Why do we have 1,700 charities and a £1bn industry? It's because the government has never taken ownership of veterans when you walk out the gate and the door closes behind you.
"That's the honest reality."
Armed Forces Bill
Carns said his department needed to make sure "everybody that leaves the military isn't disadvantaged because they've been in the military".
He added in the next year and a half the Armed Forces Bill would put it into law.
The Armed Forces Covenant focuses on helping members of the armed forces having access to the same services as other citizens such as healthcare, education and employment.
Following the discussion, Carns told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the conversation had been "really useful".
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