Australia Military Suicides Increased

More than 200 military personnel committed self-harm in five years
News Corp Australia
Ian McPhedran
October 17, 2015

The highest rank involved was a RAAF Wing Commander followed by an Army Major and several Captains while there were a number of Warrant Officers and Sergeants included in the disturbing statistics.

THE Australian Defence Force recorded 212 so-called ‘self-harm’ incidents during five years including 58 last year.

Secret internal defence documents obtained by News Corp Australia show a disturbing jump in the number of self-harm incidents and suicides in the military with the Australian Veterans Suicide Register recording more than double the number of deaths between 2012 when there were 10 and the 25 so far this year.

A high-level source said that top defence brass didn’t even know that the self-harm list existed.

“When an ADF member is identified as being at risk of suicide, self-harm or harm to others, Defence mental health professionals undertake a comprehensive mental health and risk assessment,” Defence told News Corp.

The Service Police document entitled ‘self-harm and suicide attempts 2008-2014’ shows that the army dominates the list with 175 individual incidents followed by navy with 20 and the RAAF with 17.
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SELF-HARM IN DEFENCE:

2008 (six months) = 7

2009 = 21

2010 = 29

2011 = 35

2012 = 37

2013 = 25

2014 = 58