SAS Australia star Jason Fox reveals struggles with PTSD and suicide attempts after being fired from the military due to mental health issues and ‘failing as a father’
SAS Australia training sergeant Jason Fox spoke about his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression after his terrible experiences on the battlefield.
In his book Battle Scars, the former British Royal Navy commando revealed he was medically released from the military due to mental health issues in 2012, after fighting in some of the most dangerous territories of the world.
Back in the UK, he started working for a company called Sodexo, but struggled to adjust to civilian life and considered committing suicide in 2013.
Past: SAS Australia executive staff Jason Fox (pictured) has spoken of his struggles with PTSD and suicide attempts after being discharged from the military with mental health issues and ‘failing in as a father ”
Fox admitted he hated his day job and struggled mentally after being fired from the military.
He said he believed he had ‘no purpose’ in life because he had ‘failed as a fighter, father, son and friend’.
He wrote: ‘My mind was crushed and the determination I had shown throughout my most difficult times of training in the jungle, or during the toughest battles, has receded.
‘Throwing myself off the edge would end the pain I had been sucking for the best part of three years, all those dark thoughts and periods of worthlessness gone forever, my loneliness gone. ”
Military: In his book Battle Scars, the former British Royal Navy commando revealed that he was medically dismissed from his post with mental health issues after fighting in the world’s most dangerous countries.
Fox also recalled another occasion when he called a co-worker and told her he was planning to kill himself, but couldn’t recall the incident days later.
“ I was in the emotional extreme on the verge of suicide, a moment in life that would have marked most people. And yet, I didn’t remember anything, ”he wrote.
He also spoke candidly about his path to recovery and his therapy sessions with clinical psychologist Dr Alexandra Lagaisse.
“It wasn’t until then that I realized the importance of raising my hand to call for help, of saying, ‘I’m not fine.’ But more of us should be thinking this way, ”he said.
“Whatever you do, don’t be silent. I did and it almost killed me.
‘My mind was crushed’: After returning home to England, Jason said he believed he had ‘no goals because he had failed as a fighter, father, son and friend ”
TV role: In 2015, Jason became the presenter of the first season of SAS: Who Dares Wins of England alongside Ant Middleton, Matthew ‘Ollie’ Ollerton, Mark ‘Billy’ Billington and Jay Morton
In 2015, Jason joined the cast of British television series SAS: Who Dares Wins, alongside Ant Middleton, Matthew ‘Ollie’ Ollerton, Mark ‘Billy’ Billington and Jay Morton.
He is now one of the instructors of SAS Australia and puts on celebrities through their footsteps as they attempt to pass the selection process to join the Army’s elite Special Air Service.
SAS Australia’s contenders include 2018 Bachelorette Ali Oetjen, big-name reality TV flop Nick Cummins, and former Ironwoman Candice Warner.
Challenge: Currently hosting SAS Australia, where he puts the stars to the test as they attempt to pass the selection process to join the elite of the Australian Army’s Special Air Service.
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