Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) does not spare anyone, not even a royal family celebrity like Prince Harry. According to Prince Harry, he was administered psychological testing and support after he was forced to leave the Afghanistan tour of duty.
US Weekly reports that Prince Harry was with the British Army for 10 weeks. His presence in Afghanistan was cut short because of a journalist named Matt Drudge, who reported on the whereabouts of Prince Harry at the time.
The British defense ministry recalled Prince Harry immediately after the report. The decision was a precautionary measure, so as to avoid endangering the British solidiers and Prince Harry while out in Afghanistan.
Prince Harry had been reluctant to leave the Afghanistan tour of duty. A main concern for Prince Harry was the fate of the soldiers he served with.
Prince Harry filmed @SkyGameChangers with these incredible #Invictus competitors. Watch more here: https://t.co/HlLtqC0o11
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 27, 2016
Sky News reports that Prince Harry was thereafter getting debriefed in Cyprus. Prince Harry was given a battery of mandatory psychological tests during this period.
Some of his encounters during the Afghanistan tour of duty in 2007 reportedly still haunt Prince Harry on occasion. The prince shared how well he empathized with the athletes of the Invictus Games.
"The army put you through a day, two-day course on the way back through Cyprus, which is crucial to everybody," Prince Harry said. "There are images I've been lucky enough not to see, but there have been images that I've been unfortunate to see, nothing like some of these guys, but, yes, there is a percentage of me being able to relate to exactly what they go through."
Our thoughts are with the people of Nepal on the first anniversary of the 25th April earthquake #NepalEarthquake pic.twitter.com/SdIs5gpgWK — Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 25, 2016
Medical and psychological attention such as those given to Prince Harry in Cyprus try to look out for PTSD among war returnees. Given the intense and unnatural environment and situations that soldiers go through during war, PTSD is often associated with them.
However, this serious medical and mental condition does not only affect soldiers but a good number of people who experience trauma. According to PTSD United, 70% of adults in the US experienced trauma in their lives. Of these adults, 20% develop PTSD.
The Invictus Games that Prince Harry is supporting aims to bring awareness to the physical as well as psychological injuries that soldiers suffer during war. Prince Harry will be on hand for the Invictus Games opening on May 8 in Orlando, Florida.
