After serving eight years in the RAF, Shaun was medically discharged following the loss of half his hearing. What should have been a managed transition into civilian life instead became a rapid unravelling. In the space of a few months, Shaun lost not only his career, but his sense of identity, his home, and the structure that had once kept him grounded. 

Behind the scenes, the impact was devastating. Like many veterans, Shaun struggled in silence — carrying pride, shame, and the belief that he should be able to cope on his own. Depression took hold quietly and deeply, eventually leading to three suicide attempts. Outwardly, he was a veteran with a medal on his chest. Inwardly, he felt invisible. 

Everything changed on a cold winter night when Shaun walked into A&E and asked for help. That moment led him to the Erskine Veterans Activity Centre in Forres a place that offered not judgement, but understanding, community, and purpose. Through Erskine, Shaun began rebuilding his life from the ground up, learning to speak openly, reconnect with others, and rediscover who he was beyond the uniform.

Purple Hope – How Erskine Saved My Life is Shaun’s first book. Written with honesty, vulnerability, and moments of dark humour, it tells the story he once believed he would never survive. More than a memoir, it is a message to anyone who feels lost after service or after any major life change that support exists, and that asking for help can be the first step toward recovery. 

Today, Shaun shares his story to break stigma around mental health, raise awareness of veteran support services, and help others feel less alone. Through his writing and advocacy, he hopes to encourage conversations that save lives — and to ensure that the organisations who step in when people are at their lowest continue to be supported.