17. To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent estimate he has made of the number of service personnel who are likely to experience long-term mental health problems. (277549)

Less than 0.1 per cent. of regular service personnel are discharged annually for mental health reasons, whatever the cause. The King’s Centre for Mental Health Research is undertaking an MOD-funded study looking at the prevalence of mental health disorders in both serving and veteran personnel. This study will inform our mental health care policies when the results are available towards the beginning of next year. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.