Photo: Sam Murray in the Peak District, where he teaches meditation to veterans. Joel Goodman | Guardian
After leaving the Marines in 1996, Royal Marine Commando Sam Murray suffered from PTSD and depression along with suicidal episodes. Fast forward to 2020: Murray saw a call from Re:Act Disaster Response looking for veterans willing to help with the pandemic crisis. Within weeks, he was leading a team of 12 veteran volunteers, assisting in the two hospital mortuaries as mortuary technicians. Murray acknowledges that morticians, like other essential workers, are not usually acknowledged, but that's something he wants to change, along with shedding light on the need for mental health support for veterans. In the meantime, he continues to volunteer with Re:Act, currently helping to find housing for homeless people. He says the simple act of helping others has helped him and gives him hope that others will be inspired to be kinder.
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