TODAY is supposedly the most gloomy day of the year.

However, for the first time, a Stigma Clock will be projected onto the Tower of London.

The Stigma Clock will be switched on by England Rugby World Cup winner and TV personality Matt Dawson.

Colchester Castle will also be lit up tomorrow from 4pm.

Why? To shine a light on mental health and take it out of the shadows.

New survey results commissioned by the military charity Help for Heroes reveal Armed Forces veterans are delaying asking for help with their mental health, including those suffering from post traumatic stress, for almost four years.

The projections are being shown to highlight that four year wait, asking the public to fundraise in support of wounded, injured and sick veterans.

It is not just veterans who struggle to find the courage to speak out.

Commuters are also being encouraged to stop for a chat today, as Greater Anglia is supporting Samaritans’ Brew Monday initiative.

Greater Anglia staff and Samaritans volunteers will be encouraging commuters in Colchester to speak to friends over a cup of tea, rather than just suffering in silence.

Last year, Greater Anglia staff carried out 46 suicide interventions across the network.

There is a high chance one of these commuters could have been in the Armed Forces in the past.

The invisible wounds of psychological trauma can take years to come to terms with.

However, there is hope and help at hand in the form of a recovery centre in Colchester, Chavasse VC House which offers recovery services to all wounded, injured and sick veterans.

The centre is specifically designed to be a space to relax.

Veteran Stephen Salmon, 35, is one of those who has been helped by the team at Chavasse VC House. The former Royal Engineer had developed an illness which deteriorated and led to him becoming a wheelchair user.

When it became apparent to Stephen he was not going to physically recover, things took a turn for the worse.

It hit him psychologically but for a decade Stephen battled to keep his mental health issues under wraps.

“Engaging with Help for Heroes has allowed me to fully accept what has happened and how I am,” he said.

“When you’re in a wheelchair you don’t always feel like you fit in, but I do at the Colchester recovery centre.

“The first conversation isn’t about the wheelchair and how it happened.

“There is an instant acceptance that you’re here and they will support you.

“When you’re ready to talk Help for Heroes are ready. It took me ten years to reach out for help.

“If I was able to go back to the start of my journey and give advice to myself it would be to not bottle it up and seek help sooner.”

The Help for Heroes Hidden Wounds service supports veterans living with anxiety, depression, or anger.

There is also the psychological wellbeing team on site, as well as psycho-educational courses and mental health support activities.

Julian North, who is recovery manager for the east, said: “Help for Heroes is founded on the belief that those who put their lives on the line for us, deserve a second chance at life.

“Here at the Colchester recovery centre the staff inspire, enable and support our veterans to lead active, independent and fulfilling lives.

“In recent years we have supported individuals aged from 18 to 90-years-old by focussing on the five key areas of medical, mind, body, spirit and family.”

Help for Heroes helped 4,194 additional individuals between August 2017 and August 2018, with their physical and mental wellbeing.

Of these, 881 accessed support from the psychological wellbeing service.

Depression, anxiety and anger symptoms all reduced, and anger management improved amongst those who accessed Help for Heroes’ Hidden Wounds programme.

Veterans First is another Colchester-based scheme, which runs from the Lakes at Colchester Hospital.

It is a specialist service for servicemen and women who need mental health support.

Together they are helping to lead mental health problems out of the shadows and into the

light.