Australian Veterans: "Far too many lock-up their anxieties"

Fighting the hidden toll of war
The West Australian
Graham Edwards AM, State President of the RSL
October 13, 2015

There is also a parallel number of Australian Defence Force (ADF) and veterans suffering anxiety, depression and committing suicide. By September, 22 had died this year and there has been an upward trend in the past six or seven years. Nineteen died in 2014 – and each death cuts deeply in the ADF family.

Talk to a mate. Talk to someone you can trust.

Sometimes the mate or friend may be away or overseas. Pick up the phone!

A former solder and military psychologist of 26 years’ experience in Perth offers this primary advice to anyone contemplating suicide. He knows there are many professionals waiting to help, but his experience is that the very first step is to get people to open up. Far too many lock-up their anxieties.

“We’ve got to convince veterans that it is the nature of what they went through that matters, rather than their concerns about reaching out for support,” he said.

“There is help available; it is never too late. There is a pathway to leading a fulfilling life.”

In WA, help is very near. There are websites like Operation Life and At-Ease and apps. Professional help includes the Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS), which has counsellors, psychologists and mental health accredited social workers throughout the state and operates a 24/7 helpline (1800 011 046 ). The RSL has trained pension officers, advocates and welfare officers to assist serving and former members of the armed forces. There are suicide prevention services like Lifeline (13 11 14) and BeyondBlue (1300 22 4636) Suicide is a tough subject, but we need to shine a light on it because, according to the Black Dog Institute, more than 2,500 people suicide each year – compared with last year’s road toll of 1,156 – and more than 60,000 attempts to take their life.
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