“Remembrance must mean more than wreaths" says Green campaigner

With 6,696 Armed Forces veterans living in Tameside, Green Party campaigner Phil Wilson-Marks is calling for better mental health, housing, and family support for former service personnel.

Phil Wilson-Marks warned that the responsibility to those who served does not end when they return home.

As communities across Tameside prepare to mark Remembrance this coming weekend, Green Party campaigner Phil Wilson-Marks is calling for greater recognition and support for veterans living with the lasting psychological consequences of military service.

He says that remembering those who served must mean more than just attending ceremonies and laying wreaths. It must also mean acknowledging the struggles some veterans face long after returning home, and ensuring they and their families are not left to cope alone.

Many former service personnel face challenges including homelessness, unemployment, financial hardship, mental health difficulties, PTSD, alcohol and drug dependency, and social isolation.

The borough’s wider statistics highlight the pressures facing vulnerable residents, with rising homelessness, drug misuse rates above national averages, and alcohol treatment rates significantly higher than the national average. Although these figures are not specific to veterans, they reinforce the importance of accessible, joined-up support for those who have served.

For Phil, the issue is not simply political. It is rooted in his own experience of the lasting impact of military service.

A personal story behind the call for support

Phil Wilson-Marks said:

“This is an issue I understand personally, having seen first-hand the lasting impact it can have. My father served in the Royal Air Force, including tours in West Germany and Northern Ireland. What he experienced, particularly during the Troubles, stayed with him long after he returned home.

“He went through several serious mental health crises. At the time, PTSD was far less understood, and the psychological impact of military service was too often overlooked. There was little recognition of what he was going through or the support he needed.

“Military service doesn’t just affect the person wearing the uniform; its impact can reach into family life and relationships of those closest to them.

“People sometimes talk about PTSD as though it is simply a condition or a diagnosis. But behind that diagnosis is a human being, a family and a life that can be profoundly changed. The effects can last for years, sometimes decades.

“That is why Remembrance means so much more than looking back. We rightly honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice, but we must also recognise those who came home carrying invisible wounds. Their experiences matter, and so do the families who have supported them through some incredibly difficult times.

“No veteran should feel that they have been forgotten once their service has ended.”

A commitment to veterans must go beyond words

Wilson-Marks states that the Green Party of England and Wales recognises the responsibility to support former service personnel, including those who have experienced trauma through military service, and to address the needs of dependents where service personnel have been killed or seriously injured.

Phil Wilson-Marks continued:

“Those commitments must translate into practical help. Veterans living with PTSD and other service-related conditions need timely access to specialist mental health support, alongside help with housing, employment, addiction and adjusting to civilian life.

“Families must not be overlooked. They are often the people providing support behind closed doors, while dealing with the emotional and practical consequences themselves.

“We should not wait until someone reaches breaking point before offering help. We need services that understand the particular experiences of veterans, recognise the warning signs and provide support before problems become crises.

“Most importantly, we need to listen to veterans themselves. Their experiences should shape the services and support available to them.”

Remembering those who served and supporting those who returned

As Tameside residents gather at war memorials on Remembrance Sunday, Phil says the occasion should also be an opportunity to reflect on the responsibility owed to those who have returned from military service.

He said:

“On Remembrance Sunday, we will come together to remember and pay our respects. But I hope we also take a moment to think about the veterans still living with the consequences of their service, and the families who continue to share that burden.

“My father’s experiences have shown me that the end of military service does not necessarily mean the end of suffering. We cannot change what people have been through, but we can do much more to ensure they receive the care, understanding and support they deserve.

“Respect for our Armed Forces must extend beyond the years someone spends in uniform. It must be a lifelong commitment.

“We will remember them. But remembering must also mean looking after them.”