For over a century Combat Stress has been helping former UK servicemen and women deal with issues like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression. Today they provide specialist treatment and support for veterans from every service and conflict, focusing on those with complex mental health issues.

Thales understand the enormity of what we ask our Armed Forces to do on our behalf in times of conflict.  We are not just a supplier of technology and military capability but are also signatories to the UK Armed Forces Covenant and have achieved Gold Award in the UK MoD’s Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS).  This is because we care about the men and women who are the users of our technology and recognise our part in ensuring that they get the best possible care when they have had to experience combat on the nation’s behalf.

“Thales UK and Combat Stress have a longstanding partnership spanning many years. Our shared values, the importance of mental health at work and at home, and the understanding of the value that veterans bring to the workplace have ensured that our partnership goes from strength to strength.”
Garry Burns, Corporate Fundraising Manager, Combat Stress

At Thales UK we take the mental health of our employees very seriously because the wellbeing of our employees is fundamental to the success of our business and that is why when we look at one of our key customers in the UK, the UK Armed Forces, we have made Combat Stress one of our Corporate Sponsored Charities.

“Thales UK benefit from the large number of veterans among our workforce.  We benefit from their training, knowledge and experience – sometimes an experience that was hard won.   That is why as a supplier of capability to the UK Armed Forces we are also proud to help share their burden by supporting Combat Stress and our ex-services employees so that ultimately we are fully part of their success in every way possible”.
Alex Cresswell, CEO Thales UK

This Armistice, Combat Stress, the UK’s leading charity for veterans’ mental health, are launching a ground-breaking new campaign – Combat Stress 100. Combat Stress is, with SSAFA, the main Service Charity we Thales UK support as a Company.

The Combat Stress 100 campaign provides a true insight into the impact of living with military trauma. Unfiltered, unguarded and profoundly moving accounts from UK veterans highlight the agony of living with PTSD [Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder] and the toll this, and other complex mental health conditions, can have on veterans and their families.

Through the content of the project (over 70 interviews with veterans, family members and Combat Stress staff), Combat Stress are asking the nation to listen, watch and learn about the impact of military trauma on former servicemen and women.

The Combat Stress 100 project, undertaken to mark Combat Stress' centenary year, was made in partnership with reminiscence charity Age Exchange. It was made possible thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and of course the veterans who so bravely shared their stories.

If you would like to hear their stories and accounts, please visit  Combat Stress  and follow the links to the Combat Stress 100 project. Alternatively you can follow the links below.

Trigger Warning: Please Note some of these stories and accounts are not easy to listen to and watch.

 “We hope that by sharing this podcast with Thales, it will lead to better understanding of the challenges veterans face and how with the right support even the most complex issues can be overcome.”
Garry Burns, Corporate Fundraising Manager, Combat Stress

 

Combat Stress 100 Film 

This 60-minute film captures the compelling stories of military veterans – the camaraderie of basic training, fighting on the front line, the devastating impact of PTSD, and their enduring strength to rebuild their lives.  The film was made by eight veterans with mental health conditions who were treated by us.  They were trained to film and conduct interviews with fellow veterans who have also been supported by the charity.  Across the UK, veterans sat down in front of the camera and gave unfiltered, unguarded and profoundly moving accounts of their experiences. 

Watch the film

  

Combat Stress 100 Podcast

Over this six-episode series, you’ll hear the heartrending true stories of UK military veterans who experienced extraordinary events and survived, but not without consequences; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and, for some, substance misuse.

Click here more information and available episodes

The Combat Stress 100 podcast is kindly sponsored by CDS Defence & Security.

  

Combat Stress: The Living Archive

Veterans’ individual testimonies from the filming  have become part of our new Living Archive. These powerful first person accounts will be stored for future reference and available to the public to help encourage understanding about the impact of living with military trauma.

You can see the archive here.

Combat Stress: The Living Archive is kindly sponsored by AlixPartners