Tragic Wait: Veteran's Struggle with PTSD
and Untimely Death Amid Healthcare Delays

George Du Preez, a former private in the British Parachute Regiment, tragically took his own life while awaiting therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which developed after he unintentionally shot a child in Afghanistan in 2011 - as reported in BBC News. His wife, Katriona, disclosed that he had been unaware of the child's presence at the time of the incident.

The Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board has professed a commitment to supporting veterans with mental health issues, while the Army has emphasized the seriousness with which it treats service personnel's health, although it refrained from commenting on individual cases.

Born in Namibia, Mr Du Preez enlisted in the British Parachute Regiment and was deployed to Afghanistan. His wife recounted a distressing call she received from him in February 2011, during which he questioned whether God could forgive someone for killing a child. Initially, she believed he was referring to the Taliban, but upon his return home, he revealed the true circumstances that had led to the PTSD trigger.

After receiving treatment both in the military and civilian capacities in Colchester, Essex, where his regiment was located, Mr Du Preez was medically discharged in 2014 due to his PTSD. In pursuit of familial support, the couple relocated to Bridgend, South Wales, with their young son. They were advised that Mr Du Preez would continue his treatment promptly, but according to Mrs Du Preez, this was not the case. She described her husband as a kind, introverted, and devout man who suffered greatly from paranoia and flashbacks.

Despite moving to Wales for better prospects, Mr Du Preez experienced a severe emotional breakdown and was hospitalized multiple times between 2014 and 2019 without receiving the therapy he needed. At the age of 37, he was tragically discovered deceased by his wife in November 2019, still on the waiting list for treatment.

The widow expressed her dissatisfaction with the lack of explanation provided by the Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board for the restart of her husband's treatment process after their move. A coroner's inquest in December determined that the actions of Mr Du Preez's GP, mental health services, and probation service in the weeks leading up to his death were not contributing factors. Nonetheless, Mrs Du Preez felt that more could have been done to provide him with veteran-specific mental health care.

Highlighting the disparities in treatment across the UK, she pointed out the seeming 'postcode lottery' for veterans' mental health services, a situation that has left her and her son without their loved one.

In Wales, which is home to around 115,000 veterans—a higher proportion than in England—the Welsh government has taken steps to improve services, including the establishment of Veterans NHS Wales in 2011 for dedicated therapists and a new scheme in 2023 aimed at enhancing GP services for former military personnel. Despite these initiatives, Dave Singletary of the Parachute Regimental Association in Wales indicated that therapy waiting lists were full and the level of care in Wales did not match that of England.

The Army reported enhancements in the support system to enable earlier identification and assistance for mental health issues. Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board extended its deepest sympathies to George's family, affirming its dedication to the Armed Forces Covenant and the provision of various services to veterans with mental health needs.

More @ BBC News