In the fourth installment of our series on war and memory we speak with ex-British Army mental health clinician Christian Hughes on the traumatic impacts of conflict. He gives a detailed breakdown of PTSD, critiques the condition's framing as a 'heroes injury' only experienced by those on the front-line, and introduces us to the notion of moral injury.
In a wide-ranging discussion, Christian also explains that combat isn't the only element of an armed forces career with psychological impacts - arguing that military training conditions soldiers to respond to traumatic events in ways that are counter-productive to their mental wellbeing.
Christian K Hughes is a psychotherapist who served in the British Army as a mental health clinician. He also worked as a Senior NHS Clinician in a Complex Treatment Team and has a special interest in PTSD, trauma and moral injury. You can find out more about his work here.
If you've experienced, or are experiencing, any of the issues discussed in this podcast you can get specialist help from the NHS. Follow this link to find out more.
ForcesWatch is a small organisation funded by grants and donations. All contributions - no matter the size - can make a huge difference. If you want to support our work then please follow the link below.