A FORMER soldier hopes to help take the weight off people’s minds by carrying a heavy weight with him 24 hours a day.
Matt Lang has been participating in the medicine ball challenge: it’s involved having a 3kg lump of rubber chained to his wrist for a week, and only being permitted to unclip the chain to shower and get dressed.
“The physical representation of the weight being there all the time keeps in mind all the veterans and serving personnel dealing with mental health issues every day,” said Matt.
A former private who served in the Light Infantry and Rifles, Matt did three tours in Iraq.
“During one of the tours I almost ended up being mortared, and it resulted in the PTSD with firecrackers and cars backfiring,” he said.
Having left active service in 2008, Matt says it was years before he talked about what was happening to him.
“I didn’t want to admit that I had a problem. But about four years ago I knew I needed to seek help. I did hypnotherapy with a mate from my old battalion who had set up his own business.”
Matt urges anyone experiencing difficulties to speak out.
“You’re not less of a man to actually say ‘I need help’” he says.
“Mental health used to be a bad word in the forces and it’s been too long in the background. It’s become more apparent that it needs support.”
The Medicine Ball Challenge is an initiative that supports ABF the national armed forces charity, and the organisation Combat Stress.
It’s not a fundraising campaign, but rather aims to bring mental health amongst serving personnel and veterans into the public eye.
Matt, 37, is now an instructor with the Army Cadet Corps, which meets weekly and on some weekends in Barras Cross, Liskeard. He’s one of a team of leaders enabling youngsters from 12-18 to gain lifelong skills, and experience team work, adventure and friendship.
He’s also Cornwall’s County Bugle Major, and as well as playing at all Liskeard’s Remembrance Services and parades, he trains the young musicians who’ll play in military bands and perform the Last Post in future years.