Tory MP and ex-Army captain, Johnny Mercer, came under fire this week for daring to question the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among military veterans.
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The Plymouth MP accused some charities of exaggerating the scale of the problem to boost their own coffers – and in doing so, damaging the image of servicemen and women, presenting them as ‘mad, bad and dangerous’.
He went further, warning that soldiers were being swept up by a ‘culture of victimhood’ and wrongly self-diagnosing PTSD, which harmed those with genuine problems who were in need of support.
Cue the predictable torrent of abuse on social media denouncing Mercer for his cruel insensitivity.
Naturally, members of the ‘stress’ industry – counsellors, therapists, psychologists and charities – lined up to condemn him.
It was Mercer’s comments that were ‘degrading’ to veterans, they said, and accused him of promoting himself at veterans’ expense.
They chose to ignore that Mercer served three tours in Afghanistan so might actually know what he’s talking about.
He has also admitted to his own struggles with mental health problems throughout his 20s, undergoing cognitive behavioural therapy and treatment with antidepressant drugs.