TEENAGER Harry Jones is one of the first soldiers in the country to be helped by a new service set up by Help for Heroes.

The Wiltshire based charity has created H4H Hidden Wounds to help servicemen and women who are suffering from psychological problems.

Mr Jones, 19, from Devizes, joined the army as a signaller in 2012 but two years later he was medically discharged because of anxiety and panic attacks.

He contacted H4H Hidden Wounds to ask for help.

Mr Jones, who grew up in Lyneham as part of a service family, said: "My anxiety left me constantly scared. I didn’t know what was happening to me, when my next panic attack would be or how to make it stop.

"I needed help but I was embarrassed to ask. Picking up the phone was one of the hardest things I’ve done, but now I’d recommend Help for Heroes Hidden Wounds to anyone.

"They helped me understand that what I was going through wasn’t something to be ashamed of and gave me simple tools I can use to manage my anxiety on a daily basis."

A spokesman for the charity said: "Operating out of the Help for Heroes run Recovery Centre at Tedworth House, Tidworth, the service helps individuals to understand and manage anxiety, depression and stress with support delivered by phone, Skype or face to face.

"Many people think of wounded or injured servicemen as recovering from IED blasts or fire-fights, but the reality is that far more may need support with everyday difficulties that can be overcome with the right help.

"Different people respond to stress and worry in a variety of ways – it can be a sudden lack of motivation or interest in everyday activities; an uncontrollable sense of worry or fear; it could be physical tension in the head or shoulders, or any number of other symptoms."

The service is delivered by H4H Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners who understand the unique situations faced by the Armed Forces community, teaching individuals practical tools and techniques to get them back to enjoying everyday life.

Help for Heroes head of psychological wellbeing, Vanessa Lewis, said of the service: “While the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan may be over, the personal battles of those who served may only just be beginning.