RAF veteran creates film about Post-Traumatic Stress

RAF veteran’s film to end stigma of Post-Traumatic Stress

A former RAF technician, who is creating a film around Post Traumatic Stress Disorder to help train health professionals, has gained backing from leading experts including a White House advisor.

Peter Carruthers is currently fundraising in order to complete his third film, 'Unload', in the hope it can be used by health professionals around the world to gain a deeper understanding of what veterans are going through.

He also hopes to encourage veterans to seek help and to educate the public about the reality of living with PTSD.

The 36-year-old worked as an Avionics Technician for seven years before becoming an actor, writer and film-maker.

His previous work has been endorsed by Dr Barbara Van Dahlen, a White House advisor on veterans’ mental health, and legendary actor Sir Patrick Stewart, who described his film ‘Fallout’ as ‘extremely powerful’.

The new film ‘Unload’ focuses on the psychological therapy provided by the North West Military Veterans’ Service, a mental health service run by Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, and funded by 32 Clinical Commissioning Groups from Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire and Merseyside.

The 40 minute drama will follow the journey of British Army veteran Eddie, played by Peter, as he struggles to accept and find appropriate help for his PTSD.

Peter said: “The Military Veterans’ Service is tailored to the needs of veterans, which gives them confidence that the staff will understand what they've been through. People need to know they’re not alone and that the right help is out there.

“This film gives insight into how veterans are feeling when they first come to therapy and how it can help them.”

Peter first became involved with the Military Veterans’ Service after promoting his first film at conferences where he was approached by staff from Pennine Care who wanted to use his films for staff training.

He was then invited to write and perform a monologue at an event at the Imperial War Museum last year, from which the script for ‘Unload’ was born.

He has received £10,000 funding from Pennine Care and hopes to receive a further £10,000 from NHS England to support the production of the film, which will be used by the NHS for training purposes.

Once the film is complete, Peter, from Horwich, will run a two-year UK wide outreach project to raise awareness and understanding of PTSD and has been invited on a US tour in an effort to improve standards of therapy for veterans in the USA.

Dr Alan Barrett, Clinical Lead for the North West Military Veterans' Service said: "When Pete performed his script as a theatre piece at our event last year it was enormously powerful for clients and NHS professionals alike.

“The story has both the darkness and the humour that is present so often in the experience of veterans we see. Most importantly however it is a story of hope - demonstrating what can be achieved when a motivated veteran and a skilled clinician work together."

Peter hopes to raise a further £40,000 to complete the film and outreach project through corporate sponsorship and a crowdfunding campaign. The film is set to be completed by the end of 2014.