Thousands of cinemagoers will see a shocking and unprecedented advert as they wait to view Hollywood’s latest take on the Iraq war. 
Combat Stress, Britain’s leading ex-services mental health charity, has spent �100,000 on a 60-second commercial to run before Tommy Lee Jones’ newest movie In The Valley Of Elah.

The ad focuses on what has been called the invisible epidemic, thousands of servicemen and women psychologically scarred by the trauma of battle.

With a voiceover by Sean Bean, it uses actors to portray servicemen unable to come to terms with what they have experienced and struggling to communicate their suffering to their families. 

It ends with the line: “They fought our wars, we’ll win their battle.”
Toby Elliott, chairman of the charity, said: “We have 8,000 veterans on our books, the youngest in his 20s. But demand is increasing steeply, with a 27% increase over the last two years.”

Although 40% of the charity’s �20m budget comes from the Ministry of Defence, it needs more donations from the public to cope with the growing workload. 

It is hoped the cinema advert will introduce younger audiences to the campaign.

At a preview, Falklands veteran Gordon Hoggan, 49, said: “I just hope people are made aware that Combat Stress saves lives. 

“If it wasn’t for their treatment centres I wouldn’t be here now. I tried to take my own life. After what I’d seen, there seemed no point in carrying on.”
On average it takes 13 years for combat stress symptoms to develop. 

They can vary from depression and insomnia to violence and substance abuse.

Fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan is expected to add still further to the number seeking help. 

A second charity called Resolution has now been launched. 

It will offer counselling for former service people in their own homes, encouraging them to come to terms with their trauma by reliving the event through what is called “rewind therapy”. 

It is claimed to have a 90% success rate in some cases.

:: For more information contact Combat Stress on 01372 841616 or visit www.combatstress.org.uk