A West Lothian man is fronting a new campaign from a national mental health programme to help more veterans open up about their mental health.
Sean Brogan, from Livingston, is one of five armed forces veterans acting as the face of a new campaign from See Me, Scotland’s national programme to end mental health stigma and discrimination.
On average it can take over a decade for a veteran to ask for the support they need with their mental health, with some even considering or attempting suicide before speaking out.
Veterans all over Scotland have said that not wanting people to know what they are going through, and thinking that mental health problems are a sign of weakness, stop veterans from reaching out for help with their mental health.
Judging themselves if they are struggling and a feeling they should just ‘crack on’ can mean that veterans reach a crisis point before they tell someone how they feel.
See Me is encouraging veterans in West Lothian to get talking about mental health, and overcome the stigma which many face.
As part of the campaign, Sean was photographed by photographer Andy Low, and his portrait went on display as part of an installation in Edinburgh’s Waverley train station in early December.
Each of the portraits was accompanied by a QR code, which station users could scan on their phones to listen to each veterans’ experiences of mental health stigma, and getting help.
Sean served for 15 years in the Intelligence Corps before being medically discharged in 2021 due to mental health. He served as an operator of military intelligence, which included four tours of Afghanistan, as well as Iraq and Syria. He struggled with his mental health, which has had a huge impact, and has tried to take his own life.
Sean said: “I suffered a psychological injury, I suppose you can call it, in December 2017. It completely changed my life. It had a negative impact on everything. I kept it quite private – only people close to me knew I was receiving treatment and on this medication – because of the stigma attached. I found it difficult to speak to anyone about how I was feeling, what I was going through, or how it affected me.”
When he left the forces, he was worried about how his mental health would impact on his career. He has experienced stigma from some people close to him, who treated him completely different when they found out he had a mental health problem.
He said: “The thing that’s helped me most has been my partner, and those close to me. If they weren’t there and supporting me, things could have went awry quite easily. I think people who are around veterans, the best thing to do is let them know that you’re there, and to listen.
"They might not be an expert or be medically qualified but it’s important that they’re there to listen. “I would say to anyone out there who is struggling alone – don’t struggle alone.
"Reach out, whether it’s one of the helplines or online help, go see your GP – just speak to someone and share your feelings and any negative thoughts you’re having. If you have a physical injury, that’s normal [in the forces] – psychological injuries and mental health issues need to be thought of in the same way. People can get out of it, people can come back to work and carry on.”
Forces veterans are not more likely to struggle with their mental health than the general population, but they can take longer to get help when they are struggling. It is hoped that the stories can help dispel some common misconceptions around veterans’ mental health, and encourage veterans, and their family and friends, to open up.
Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care Kevin Stewart said: “Nobody should feel that having a mental health problem is a sign of weakness - it is the exact opposite. Everyone has a limit to what they can deal with on their own and asking for help shows strength and courage.
"Our veterans have served their country and it is only right we repay that service by ensuring they find it easy to ask, and get, the help and support they need. This campaign will go some way to helping break down these barriers for veterans and ending the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health.”
See Me director Wendy Halliday said: “The five veterans who have shared their stories as part of the campaign are proof of the power in speaking about how you’re feeling, and we hope that they can show other veterans who are struggling that they aren’t alone.
"While many veterans leave the forces with good mental health, we want those who are struggling to be able to ask for help quickly. If you are a veteran, and you’re struggling, speaking to those around you, like friends and family, is a great place to start.
"Likewise, if you are in a veteran’s life and you’re worried about them, ask them how they are, and show you will listen, not judge, and that you care. Often it is the people around a veteran who notice they are struggling first.”
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