Featured image courtesy of Combat Stress.
Mental health charity Combat Stress recognises EPUT staff member
A former Army medic has won a national award from military veterans mental health charity Combat Stress for his dedication to raising awareness of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Kevin Russell, who is a Mental Health Act Manager for Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), sought help from the charity, which delivers specialist treatment and support to former service personnel across the UK with military-related trauma.
Since undergoing treatment, Kevin has shared his story in the hope of encouraging other veterans struggling with their mental health to seek help.
He was presented with the Veteran Storyteller of the Year award by former First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Philip Jones, at the annual Combat Stress Extra Mile awards ceremony last month.
Kevin said: “Combat Stress saved my life. I wouldn’t be here without the charity, and the same can be said for countless others. How do you thank someone who saved your life? All I can do is put my efforts into raising as much awareness as possible in the hope of helping to reach others in need.
“I am honoured to win this award, it’s a powerful reminder to me of how much I have helped to achieve since completing my own journey to recovery.”
Kevin was 21 when he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps as a combat medic. He served tours in Oman, Iraq, Bosnia, and Afghanistan.
During his service in Afghanistan, Kevin responded to an incident involving two suicide bombers in Kabul. There were multiple casualties, including children.
He said: “Just the sheer volume of casualties, the number of civilians involved… the fact that we had dealt with one and then we had a second explosion. It was changeover time at a school and near a busy junction. It was the worst day.”
He was then called to respond to another explosion a couple of days later.
The devastation he witnessed over those few days prompted Kevin to hand in his notice after finishing the tour in 2006. He has worked for EPUT and one of its predecessor Trusts ever since.
In his role at EPUT, Kevin and his team support the Trust in meeting the statutory legal requirements of the Mental Health Act and provide advice to families of patients who have been detained for treatment under the Act.
Seeing people get better is one of the most rewarding parts of his job. But despite his medical training and work supporting patients and mental health professionals, he kept his own struggles to himself, despite efforts from family, friends and colleagues to help.
He suppressed the emotions and flashbacks he experienced from his time in military service for 17 years. He remembers going for a walk in a country park and his Army training would kick in, so that he would be hypervigilant and transported back to being on patrol in a conflict zone.
Kevin, who lives in Basildon, said: “I used to be a medic in the Army – I thought I could look after myself. I thought there were people worse off than me, as there were people who had had injuries and lost limbs.
“I never appreciated how bad it was until the day I broke down.”
In 2022 he decided to seek help and contacted Combat Stress because he wanted to speak to someone who understood military life.
During his initial assessment he was found to be at high risk of suicide. He joined a treatment programme, where he learned more about PTSD and worked with a psychologist to piece together what had happened to him so they could help manage his triggers.
Kevin said: “My memories are very disjointed. It’s like having a 5,000 piece jigsaw puzzle that’s been thrown on the table and you’re trying to put it together.
“I could see more of what went on and what was triggering me. There were a lot more traumatic events I had bottled up.”
Kevin worked with an occupational therapist to learn coping skills and met other veterans with PTSD during group therapy sessions and peer group meetings.
He remained on the treatment programme for two years and it also prompted him to seek an official diagnosis of PTSD from EPUT’s mental health services.
“I wanted to get a official diagnosis because then I couldn’t deny it,” he said.
His life has completely turned around since he first contacted Combat Stress.
He said: “The big thing for me is I want to make sure people know there is support available for them.”
Kevin, a married dad-of-two, featured in a hard-hitting film showing how PTSD affected his life. It has reached the finals of this year’s Smiley Charity Film Awards.
Robert Marsh, Director of Fundraising at Combat Stress, said: “We are so grateful to Kevin, whose bravery and honesty has no doubt inspired veterans to come forward for help, as well as shine a spotlight on the life-changing difference our specialist treatment makes.
“Kevin’s support has been invaluable to the veteran community, and we are delighted to present him with our Veteran Storyteller of the Year award.”