Military veterans from North Yorkshire were in London for the national launch of this year’s Poppy Appeal, which hopes to raise awareness about the mental scars they live with.

The launch saw veterans and military families from different generations take part in a mindfulness session at St Katharine Docks Marina in Tower Hamlets, London, and join a breakfast club at HMS President, the largest Royal Naval Reserve in the country, near Tower Bridge.

The Royal British Legion (RBL) Poppy Appeal, founded in 1921, aims to raise funds to offer financial, employment, housing and mental health support for the armed forces community, and this year has a fundraising target of £51.3m.

Baz Seymour, 47, from North Yorkshire, served in Iraq and sought help from the RBL after living with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“I was a ticking time bomb. We have to break down the stigma of mental health,” he said.

Tony Routledge, 62, was a Royal Signals Bombardier but was injured in Iraq and suffered depression.

Mr Routledge, from Catterick, said he threw his medals in a river during a mental health crisis, but credited the RBL with saving his life.

“I felt the country didn’t care about my service, I couldn’t feel proud about being a soldier anymore and had effectively wasted my life,” he said.

Lucy Inskip, director of the Poppy Appeal at the RBL, said seeing the public wearing poppies “means so much” to veterans and the armed forces community.

She added: “Donations raised help the Royal British Legion to continue its vital work.

“Every day, ex-serving personnel who suffer from the demands and pressures of having served their country come to the RBL for expert advice and practical support.

“From recovery to finances and camaraderie, your poppy will help the RBL to support the armed forces community.”