A FALKLANDS veteran has warned more suicides will continue to happen unless more is done to combat the growing number of mental health disorders among ex-service men and women.

Former soldier turned author, Tony McNally, 55, issued the warning after his autobiography – which documents how own battle with post-traumatic stress disorder – was adapted into an audio book.

The Ulverston resident first joined the army aged 16 and was deployed to the Falkland Islands to protect the British territory from the Argentine invasion when he was just 19.

He said: "I wanted to raise the profile of mental health in the forces community and hope visually impaired veterans can now learn about my story.

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"I was recently in the Daily Mirror and Sunday People talking about PTSD and the shocking amount of suicides which will keep happening unless more is done to help.

"Two hundred and fifty-five British military men died in the conflict but more than 300 have committed suicide from the Falklands, more have taken their own lives than have been killed – and we're talking about SAS, paratroopers. These are tough men."

Falklands veteran opens up about the horrors of war and living with PTSD

After returning home from the conflict, the father-of-two constantly suffered nightmares and could not stop thinking about the pilots from the fighter jets he was ordered to shoot down over the shores of San Carlos.

But despite receiving a diagnosis of PTSD Mr McNally was deemed fit for service and deployed to Northern Ireland during The Troubles where he still experienced vivid nightmares and shaking, while completing patrol with a loaded weapon.

He added: "The problem is, if you are not injured, people think you are OK, they can't see scars or injuries so it's a difficult thing to get across and some people just judge it as weakness."

Mr McNally, of Sir John Barrow Way, has dealt with the condition for 35 years but only began writing several years ago at the suggestion of a counsellor.

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What is PTSD?

Post traumatic stress disorder is an anxiety disorder which can affect anyone following stressful, frightening or distressing events.

Someone with PTSD often relives the traumatic event through nightmares and flashbacks, and may experience feelings of isolation, irritability and guilt.

They can also suffer changes to their sleeping patterns, nightmares and anti-social and argumentative behaviour.

Noises can often trigger flashbacks.

Still Watching Men Burn

Mr McNally wrote his autobiography, explaining the intricacies of PTSD and how he has managed to deal with it for more than 30 years, after taking up writing on the recommendation of a counsellor.

The father of two was told to channel his thoughts through poetry and writing as he "clammed up" whenever he tried to speak about his condition.

In recent years, charities including Mind and Help for Heroes have tried to raise the profile of the illness and encourage sufferers to speak up and help identify the telltale signs.