Australia Geff Gregg's suicide prompts overhaul of system

Suicide prompts call for veteran review
Nick McKenzie
March 10, 2008

THE girlfriend of an Australian soldier who killed himself after serving in Afghanistan has called for an overhaul of the support system for mentally ill veterans.

Geff Gregg killed himself shortly after receiving a letter warning his pension would be cut for failing to attend a medical appointment.

Tobi Barnard said that three days after she informed the Department of Veterans' Affairs about his suicide in September 2006, she was sent a letter demanding the refund of $300 it had overpaid him.

And three days after his suicide, a letter had arrived, saying a decision had been made to give Mr Gregg an increased pension because of his suicidal tendencies and inability to work. It was based on an assessment several months before. "Nothing was done about it. There was no red flag," Ms Barnard said.

Her call for an overhaul of the support system for mentally ill veterans comes amid revelations the Defence Force has conducted eight boards of inquiry into suspected suicides since 2006, but has kept secret the recommendations.

Mr Gregg suffered from post traumatic stress disorder and was medically discharged in May 2004. In 2002, while on secondment with an SAS patrol, he was involved in an intense firefight which left 11 Afghan villagers dead.

A defence spokesman said that between 2001 and 2007 there were 48 suspected suicides of permanent members of the ADF but that no existing evidence linked the number of suicides to operational service.

Another defence source aware of several of the inquiries said it was critical that systemic failings uncovered during the hearings were publicly aired.
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http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/suicide-
prompts-call-for-veteran-review/2008/03/09/1204998283802.html

When will the military ever learn? It's not just here. It's every nation. They send them but won't take care of them when they come home wounded by what they were asked to do.