PTSD Australian Veterans Not Being Helped to Heal

Territory PTSD sufferer says defence personnel suicides are under reported after another one of his mates dies
News.com Australia
NOVEMBER 18, 2014

“As a soldier you are ashamed and feel weak and like you don’t want to admit it to anyone, especially not your mates.

Veteran Craig West, who suffers post-traumatic stress disorder from his service in the army, has spoken out about the high suicide rates Source: News Corp Australia

A TERRITORY digger has claimed suicide deaths among young war veterans suffering post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are under reported because the issue is swept under the carpet in Australia.

Former soldier Craig West – who served in Timor in 2001 – said he has lost three veteran mates to suicide, the most recent two weeks ago.

Mr West, who suffers PTSD, said he “wasn’t surprised” when told the tragic news of his mate, who killed himself after a long battle with the disorder earlier this month.

“I knew how bad (his PTSD) was and how much he was struggling,” Mr West said.

“I got in contact with his family and people tried to help him but it was too late.”

Mr West said he knew of veterans who had attempted suicide and survived.

He said the problem was “a lot bigger than people think”.

“It’s not just the people who have committed suicide, it’s all the others out there who are still struggling,’’ he said.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) confirmed in a written statement to the NT News that it “does not record cause of death for all veteran clients”.
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