Prime Minister Julia Gillard hears "tidal wave" of PTSD vets needing care

Australia is talking about a "tidal wave" of veterans with PTSD. Compare the 39 killed in Afghanistan to the 2,191 US troops killed. Their wounded of 249 to the thousands of US wounded. If Australia is already talking "tidal wave" what does that have to say about the US? When you consider how many more US forces are there compared to Australia, that should send the most powerful message of all.  If Australia is dealing with a "tidal wave" we are dealing with a tsunami.

Gillard confronted by soldier with PTSD
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has been confronted on talkback radio by a soldier who complained about a lack of support for mentally ill veterans.

The man who identified himself as "Adam" says he returned from Afghanistan with post traumatic stress disorder but he has found the discharge process confusing and stressful.

His comments follow a warning from retired Army Major General John Cantwell that Defence will be bombarded "thousands" of mental illness cases as troops withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of the year.

Adam said he had a bad experience with the Department of Veterans' Affairs and asked the Prime Minister what she planned to do about it.

"My experiences with DVA, [Department of Veterans' Affairs] is a very jagged field and nobody can give you direct answer of where you're going to be and where you'll end up, which adds to the stresses of the discharge process," he said.

"Now what is your plan... for the return guys that are coming with those problems? Because they are going to come back and things are going to be different for them."
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Australia withdraws Afghanistan troops
At least 1,000 soldiers to be home by end of 2013 as security in Uruzgan province is handed over to Afghans
Associated Press in Canberra
guardian.co.uk
Tuesday 26 March 2013

Australia has announced two-thirds of its troops in Afghanistan will be home by the end of the 2013 when the international military base at Tarin Kowt in Uruzgan province closes.

The defence minister, Stephen Smith, said at least 1,000 of the 1,550 Australian troops in Afghanistan would be withdrawn by the end of the year.

Australia has the 10th largest national force in Afghanistan and is the largest military contributor outside Nato. Australia also has the largest number of special forces in the campaign after the United States and Britain.

Military involvement is supported by both the Australian government and opposition but its popularity among the Australian public has plummeted as the war has dragged on for 12 years. In that time 39 Australian troops have died and 249 have been wounded.
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