AN army veteran has plans to launch a new phone-line for soldiers who are struggling with mental health issues.

Tony McNally, who suffered with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder himself, believes that the army should use the vast amount of ex-servicemen around the country to set up what he proposes could be called the ‘Buddy Buddy System’.

The idea would be to create a telephone based buddy system which would partner veterans with current servicemen who are suffering with mental illness.

The 57-year-old from Ulverston joined the armed forces when he was 16 and served for 10 years in the Falklands war and Northern Ireland as a rapier missile operator in the Royal Artillery.

Tony McNally, who lives in Sir John Barrow Way, Ulverston said: “After leaving the military I went on to develop mental health problems culminating in a suicide attempt that took a year from my life in hospital.

“Just from the Falklands War, it is estimated that 300 plus veterans have taken their lives and then we have the Gulf wars and Afghanistan.

“Sadly, it seems that every day we read in the press about another veteran taking their lives, and the devastating effect on their families and friends lives also.

“War does not just affect those on the battlefield, I have lost friends to PTSD that served with me in the Falklands War.

“We simply need to stem this tsunami of deaths.

“The idea that Marines are supposed to be tough leads to them bottling the problem up and turning to drink, drugs, and worst-case scenario is suicide because they don’t want their comrades to think they are weak.

“When I was in the mental health system even though they do a sterling job on limited finances, but my thoughts were, you can’t understand as you weren’t there.

“We could utilize this huge army of veterans by asking for volunteers to have a “chat” with someone who was once in the same job.

“They can speak to someone without their superiors finding out, which is an issue as there is still a stigma about.

“I think this familiarity and understanding may have sped up my recovery.”

Tony, who grew up in Barrow, believes that with November 11 having just gone, that this is best time to launch such a project as there is more awareness around those who suffered in past conflict.

Mr McNally, who used writing to help him with PTSD and has since become a published author, raised the idea of teh buddy system after the Ulverston Town Centre memorial event at the cenotaph.