Singing alongside fellow veterans has struck a chord with former RAF gunner Gary, who credits Help for Heroes’ choir for giving him his life back. Gary’s mental health plummeted when his 31-year military career ended following open heart surgery. He was medically discharged, which led to him feeling isolated and abandoned.
“It felt like my friends and comrades disappeared overnight. I lost my self-esteem and sense of purpose. I didn’t know what I was going to do.
I had bills to pay, and a wife and son to look after. “The impact of what I saw and did during my time in service hit me like a freight train. I felt useless and like I was letting people down,” said Gary, who completed tours in Iraq, Northern Ireland and Belize.
In 2018, Gary’s mental health hit rock bottom, and he drove to a suicide spot planning to take his own life. A turning point for Gary came when he joined Help for Heroes’ renowned choir (Image: Help for Heroes) “I knew I had to do something, so I phoned a friend I had offended to say sorry. That friend said they had reached out to Help for Heroes.
So I did too, and everything from there just happened so fast for the better,” he explained. As World Mental Health Day approaches on October 10, the UK’s leading military charity is encouraging people to reach out for support. They are there for veterans, and their families, from any branch of the UK military, no matter when or where they served.
Help for Heroes provided Gary with specialist .
