Veterans’ Support Group Provides Space for Reflection and Mental Health Discussions Over Coffee

An organization founded by military veterans, Combat 2 Coffee, which facilitates discussions about mental health over coffee, has shared its perspectives for Remembrance Day. Established in Suffolk in 2018, the group dispensed over 250,000 cups from its Ipswich coffee shops and mobile units last year. Paul Martin, a member of the not-for-profit organization, departed the army in 1998 after 12 years of service, which included tours in Northern Ireland and Bosnia. Martin stated, “For me, remembrance is every day – there’s not a day I don’t think about friends that are no longer with us.” He added, “When you forget them, they stopped living. We have to make sure that their sacrifice is remembered.” Nigel Seaman, the founder of Combat 2 Coffee, described Remembrance Day as “quite an emotional time.” He remarked, “There’s a lot of people out there who struggle and I want them to use this time of reflection to maybe get help if they need help.” Seaman concluded, “I think that’s the important thing about remembrance.” The organization is currently expanding its roasting facilities in Ipswich and has appointed former Ipswich Town and England football legend Terry Butcher as a patron. Mr. Butcher’s son, Christopher, who was 35, served as a captain in the British Army with the Royal Artillery in Afghanistan. Upon his return, he contended with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and passed away in October 2017. Maureen Flewitt, Nigel Seaman’s mother, also returned from retirement to assist Combat 2 Coffee following the death of her husband. She discussed with BBC Radio Suffolk how this involvement provided her with renewed purpose, while also recounting her experience of her soldier son leaving the armed forces with PTSD. Flewitt stated, “When he joined the military it was quite hard, but it made him a man.” She continued, “But I see him come back from Northern Ireland, and I see him shouting number plates in his head in the middle of the night.” She added, “I’ve seen what a struggle he’s had in the last 10 years and it’s not been pleasant. “Nobody prepares you for when they come back.”” Mr. Martin further commented, “I see remembrance… there’s lots of positives to come out of it as well.” He elaborated, “I smile a lot about my remembrance of my colleagues, because I remember the positive bits, the funny but stupid stuff.” Martin explained, “That’s what keeps my demons way in the background and keeps them well hidden.” He concluded, “I became involved with this [Combat 2 Coffee] because I believe in it.” He described it as “a safe place where servicemen and servicewomen can feel comfortable to just say what’s really on their mind and know that the person sat opposite them understands, has empathy with them.” He clarified, “Not be there and say ‘there, there, it’s fine, it’ll all be good’ – because it won’t.” Martin emphasized, “Only they can make it right in their own head, with the right support.” For updates on Suffolk news, follow BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.