Army veteran took his own life after struggling to adjust to civilian life

Army veteran Anil Carbon took his own life in February 2019 after finding it hard to adjust to civilian life.

Anil was suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder, but wasn't diagnosed with it until four years after he left the armed force s.

Despite having symptoms, he would always say "I'm fine, it's nothing".

Now his wife Myshelle Carbon wants to raise awareness of men's mental health and how important it is that men feel they can speak up, reports Hull Live.

A mum as well as a wife, Myshelle said her children's "mental health and behaviour" has been massively affected by Anil's death.

While Anil was eventually prescribed anti-depressants and he had received counselling, it was long after he needed it.

An inquest heard how his mental health went into decline when Hurricane Maria hit his home of Dominica in September 2017.

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He got really worried about the devastation that the hurricane caused and this was worsened by the fact he couldn't contact his family who lived there for a while to check if they were safe.

Speaking of how difficult it can be when people retire from the army, Sarah said: "When they leave there is a resettlement period. They’re leaving a structured and regimented army life.

"Then they’re out leading a free life and have no guidance. He flitted between jobs and never really settled.

"He wasn’t diagnosed as having PTSD until after he left the army. It’s all to do with the stigma of mental health and men being told to man up and they just bottle it up.

"It festered within him. And then with the hurricane in Dominica everything came up and he had his first psychotic episode. It was only then when he was diagnosed with PTSD, four years after he left the army.


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"He had the symptoms but he’d always say 'I’m fine, it’s nothing'.

"He didn’t want to be seen as less of a man."

The inquest into Anil's death recorded a conclusion of suicide.

Area coroner Rosemary Baxter, said: "He took his own life and intended to do so, so I must record this conclusion as suicide.

"Anil suffered with PTSD since leaving the services and suffered with mental health problems and depression. In September 2017, his mental health worsened when Hurricane Maria wreaked havoc to his family in the Caribbean."

Nearly a year on from Anil's death, Myshelle and her family have organised an event with Hull 4 Heroes and Andy's Man Club to remember her husband.

Speaking about what happened, Myshelle said: "It’s had a massive impact on the whole family. He was the glue that held our family together.

"My children’s mental health and behaviour has been massively affected by it.

"You’re never alone. There is always someone there, just talk. There are so many services out there.

"People just need to be more aware that it is OK not to be OK."

Carbon's crusade family day is taking place on Saturday February 8 at The Pilot pub on Beverley Road, Hull.

The day will kick off at 2pm with cake stalls, tombolas, raffle, a bouncy castle, face painting and auction. All profits will go to Hull 4 Heroes and Andy's Man Club.

To donate to Carbon’s crusade  click here.

The Samaritans is available 24/7 if you need to talk. You can contact them for free by calling 116 123, email  [email protected] or head to the  website to find your nearest branch. You matter.

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