'More ex-Army friends have committed suicide than died in fighting'

AN ex-sniper claims more of his comrades took their own lives than were killed on the frontline.

- STEPHANIE BALLOO

Alex Smith said this was the tragic reality for many former servicemen he served with.

Alex who joined the Army as a 'boy soldier' straight from school, was injured twice in explosions while serving in Afghanistan the latter of which shattered his ear drums and sent him spiralling into a 'dark place.

The 36-year-old, tried to take his life twice as he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. And, sadly, it’s an issue he says is all too common for veterans.

After his injuries in the second explosion, he was deemed psychologically unfit to hold a weapon and was medically discharged from the armed forces.

What followed was a spiral of divorce, homelessness, sofa-surfing and suicide attempts.

"Coming back from Afghanistan, more lads have committed suicide from my battalion than were killed when we were out there," he claimed.

Alex, from Wolverhampton, is one of the lucky ones and, thanks to a scheme that 'saved his life, he was able to work through his trauma to pursue a new career.

After an apprenticeship with British Gas Armed Forces Pathway - a programme helping former servicemen regain a sense of purpose he is now a technical repair engineer 'obsessed' with his work.

Sharing his inspiring story, he also offered his advice to other ex-servicemen battling with their mental health and suicidal thoughts.

"For any lads who have recently left the Army who are struggling, just hang on, life does get better. Things only get bad when you give up and stop trying," he said.