Dean’s childhood was tough; he never felt like he belonged, but all that changed the moment he put on the beret. Joining the military at 16, he’d seen conflict in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia and the Gulf. As a soldier he finally felt like he mattered; his battalion were the family he’d always craved.
But like many veterans, when he left the forces, he struggled. Once a proud soldier, who was he now?
Bouncing from job to job, adjusting to civilian life was hard. But it wasn’t just the change that Dean struggled with. Every day a war raged inside of him, a war he couldn’t speak of to those on civvy street. Flashbacks came thick and fast.
The smell of metal took him back to Bosnia—the landmines, the tanks, the chaos. The sight of a poppy sent him reeling—why had he survived, when his mates hadn’t?
Dean’s mental health issues were compounded by tragedy. His beautiful daughter who had been born with Down’s syndrome needed lifesaving surgery, his brother died, and his marriage crumbled. At his lowest, he spent 3 years living in a freezing caravan, skipping meals so he could afford to feed his daughter.
Everyday felt like a battle until one day he couldn’t fight any longer and tried to end his life.
The next day he contacted SSAFA.
‘I didn’t want to reach out because I didn’t want to appear weak or feel embarrassed. I felt that there were people a lot more deserving than me’
Almost immediately, SSAFA caseworker Gayle got in touch. SSAFA understands how difficult life can be for veterans and the sacrifices they’ve made. Gayle made Dean see how brave it was to ask for help. She was his safe space. Together, Dean and Gayle started to rebuild Dean’s life.
Dean found a flat, and Gayle arranged for SSAFA to pay the rent deposit so that Dean and his daughter could finally have a family home to make memories in. She also secured funding for a bed and sofa, helping to settle him into a home.
‘If it wasn’t for Gayle, I’d probably have just got my backpack and lived a homeless life, running away from my problems. But within a couple of months of contacting SSAFA I had everything I could possibly need.”
With renewed confidence and hope for the future, Dean got a place on a construction training scheme with the MOD. He trained alongside other veterans, people who understood. Today, he is an assistant site manager, having recently been promoted. Ambitious, he is now studying to get to the next rung of the ladder.
“My life is completely different now. It’s going really well, and my daughter is always excited to come to Daddy’s house!’
When Dean shouted for help, SSAFA answered
When he faced his darkest days, we sat beside him.
When he stumbled, we were there to pick him up.
Because no one should ever battle alone.
