Liz

Ever since she was young, Liz McConaghy has been driven to help others. On her nineteenth birthday she followed her brother into the military attending RAF Cranwell to begin an exciting career onboard Chinook Helicopters. A few years later, aged just 21, Liz became the youngest aircrew to deploy to Iraq - the only female crewman on the Chinook wing to do so for four years.

“I was always made to feel part of the team. Everyone has strengths and I’ve always believed that diversities (being female in this case) are what make a team stronger.”  

Then in 2005 Liz was deployed to Afghanistan where she completed 10 tours as part of the medical response team flying in on Chinooks to provide first response assistance to wounded personnel.

"The role was both traumatic and honouring. We saw a lot whilst flying in to help those who had been injured on the front line.”

Liz was medically discharged due to a neck injury caused by wearing heavyweight helmets and heavy protection gear.

“Life was great for a year after I was discharged. I was able to attend all the weddings and events I hadn't been able to go to before. But, I observed many of my friends who had been in the forces were then struggling with mental health issues or injury. I kept looking at myself and thinking ‘I’m fine’.”

And then it hit

As the world went into lockdown due to Coronavirus, Liz’s coping mechanisms fell by the wayside and life became difficult. “My routines went out the window. I wasn’t able to be with people, I began to spiral and it triggered PTSD as I began to relive life at war. I became so low that in 2020 I tried to end my own life."

Following her suicide attempts, Liz was referred to the Veterans Mental Health care team who connected her with Combat Stress and subsequently Help for Heroes. 

Once under our care, Liz was put in touch with a counsellor, Pauline, who caught her just in time.

“Pauline was a game changer. She caught me in time and helped me to see that I wasn’t a big ball of mess. She helped me unravel why I was feeling the way I was, and was brilliant at aiding me to find and understand myself again.”

Road to recovery

During her counselling sessions with Pauline, Liz began writing poetry. This then turned into journalling, and three weeks after putting pen to paper, Liz had unknowingly written a book. “It was never intended to be published, but after speaking with a friend I was convinced to send it to a couple of publishers, and it was picked up!”

Chinook Crew 'Chick': Highs and Lows of Forces Life was published in September 2022 and has been life changing for Liz.

“People were reading it and resonating with my experiences. Suddenly people were getting in touch to ask for support, and I was doing what I have always wanted to do – helping people. The book has given me a new purpose - positivity has come out of a dark time.”

Liz finished counselling with us in early 2022, she says “we all have good days and bad days, but life has been pretty good since.” She now works as a motivational speaker, mental health campaigner and runs courses in leadership for NHS workers.

Liz also shared her powerful story on our recent BBC Lifeline appeal.