Austrailian Soldier suicide linked to drugs and PTSD

Soldier suicide linked to drugs: inquiry
Sydney Morning Herald - Sydney, New South Wales,Australia

A special forces soldier hanged himself as a result of drug and alcohol dependence, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder caused by his service in Afghanistan, an inquiry has found.

But the Department of Defence inquiry found no evidence that Captain Andrew Paljakka, 27, had experienced a traumatic event during his six weeks in Afghanistan in 2006.

"The inquiry concluded it was the compound effect of all the difficulties Captain Paljakka was experiencing, including alcohol and drug dependence, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), depression, and his personal problems, that led him to take his own life," Defence said.

"Captain Paljakka developed traumatic memories which were an elaboration of what he had heard and been told about during his six-week service in Afghanistan.

"This is a recognised phenomenon suffered by some individuals with PTSD," the inquiry found.
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