Aaron’s Story

“If it wasn’t for Launchpad, I’d either be in prison or dead. I was in such a bad place in my life and I spent years asking for mental health support, which in my experience just fell on deaf ears. Now, I feel that my life is changing for the better and I can see a brighter future for me.”

Aaron joined the Royal Navy at the age of 18. He knew he was destined for a career in the military as it was always drilled into him from an early age that he must join [the Royal Navy] to follow in his father and brother’s footsteps. He felt under pressure to keep the tradition within the family going.

He served 18 months as a Marine Engineering Artificer, sailing around the world which he is forever grateful for but realised, the Royal Navy was not for him, so he left with a greater understanding about life and the fact that he believed he was suffering from ADHD as well as PTSD.

Life moved on for Aaron – he got married, they started a family and he worked in various jobs including being a mechanic.

At the beginning of 2010, Arron’s life changed. He was diagnosed with Type 2 childhood related PTSD and his mental health took a major decline. He experienced a mental health episode which he described as ‘uncontrollable’. He took risks with his life – not being bothered whether he lived or not, but that is when his relationship with his wife hit rock bottom and sadly, they agreed to separate. Due to his severe mental health state, his relationship broke down and he found himself homeless.

After a few months, Arron contacted AFOS and he was referred to Launchpad. He was accepted and moved into Avondale House in May 2024. He actively offers to help around the house and engages in activities provided. He enjoys volunteering and has decorated his flat – even helping to decorate some of the vacant flats for the next resident to move in to. He is often seen around the garden, taking daily walks, going to the gym and he enjoys swimming. He has also participated in some of the activities funded by Op FORTITDE such as go-karting.

He attended The Royal Legion’s Battle Back in July alongside other residents from Launchpad and found the trip life-changing. He said: “It has had a massive positive impact upon my mental health. I learned so many things that I can use in future to help with my own mental state.”

Arron has been referred to Veterans at Ease for psychological support and has attended sessions on a weekly basis.

Since moving into Launchpad, he said his life has completely changed for the better. He used to smoke up to 20 cannabis joints per day just to keep himself calm but his consumption has reduced greatly and he has received support from staff. He attends counselling sessions on a regular basis and has made his flat his home.

The activities that are provided around the house have allowed him to experience things in life that he would normally not be involved with, and he can learn from. The activities have been so beneficial to his mental health, mixing with other residents and being able to be himself and enjoy having a laugh.

“Life has changed in such a short time for Aaron. He said: “My future looks great. I now believe I have a future and can see a way forward as before I felt my life was over and I had nothing to live for.

“Don’t get me wrong, I still have times when I just want to lock myself away from the world, but they are happening less frequently now, I am still suffering with anxiety and depression but by asking and eventually receiving the correct help and support, I feel I can cope with the down days.”

Aaron now feels he wants to give back to people and is looking at outdoor training. He can see the major benefits that this has on veterans’ overall mental health.

Commenting on what would have happened if he hadn’t found Launchpad, Aaron said: “I’d be either in prison or dead. I was in such a bad place in my life and basically did not want to live or die, I was just existing and not even by the day, it was by the minute. I was reckless in everything that I did – not caring at all what happened to me. Looking back, I took horrendous risks which I’m not proud of, but what I am proud of is asking for help and support which I got with Launchpad, and how far I have come in a relatively short time.

“I have spent years asking for mental health support, which in my experience has fallen on deaf ears. But now, I feel that my life is changing for the better and I can see a brighter future for me.

“Life can be good even if you are at your lowest there is always hope, but you need to work at it and work with it, as it is not easy to pull yourself from the depths of hell, but I’m proof that life can change for the better and you can go from not wanting to be on this earth, to seeing that there is a future. Most people will take the wrong turning in life now and then, but you can always turn back and look for another way.”