As part of our podcast series looking at people’s experiences of different types of addiction, this month we talk to John Wills, who has experienced and lived with alcohol addiction throughout periods of his life. John speaks about his experience of childhood abuse and his subsequent addictions, involving both alcohol and drugs, as well as the response he received when trying to access health and social care services to get support.

As we near Remembrance Day, our attention has turned to the experiences of military veterans in Essex. During the pandemic we engaged with veterans to understand what matters most to them and the barriers they face in accessing the services they need. Our report ‘What Matters To Veterans’, outlines a number of challenges in transitioning to civilian life, ranging from a lack of preparation for leaving, a lack of understanding of civilian healthcare, an inadequate ability to manage finances and a proliferation of military charities making the landscape complicated to navigate. 

In this podcast we hear from two veterans - Paul Findlay, a former soldier who lost his leg in Afghanistan and previously worked to support other veterans through BLESMA, The Limbless Veterans; and Colin Branch who also lost his leg whilst serving in the military and who now works for Help for Heroes, supporting others. 

In this episode we are joined by Lisa and Chris who have both experienced gambling addiction. In both instances their mental health spiralled significantly, with Lisa losing her home and relationship and Chris eventually considering ending his life. Both Lisa and Chris have now stopped gambling and support others in their recovery from gambling addiction. 

In this episode, we speak with Michael who has been living with a stoma for six years. Alongside Coloplast Nurse, Tracey, they both share their experiences, thoughts and advice about life with a stoma.