REPORTING a mental health issue was a “career killer” for members of the Australian Defence Force, a Senate Inquiry into the mental health of serving personnel has been told.
Representatives from peak organisations including Soldier On and the Alliance of Defence Service Organisatons told Senators that troops had actually lost their jobs or been sidelined after flagging mental health problems.
According to Noel McLaughlan from the Royal Australian Armoured Corps Corporation, an Army Major who reported a “flash back” and sought treatment was issued with a “show cause” as to why he shouldn’t be sacked.
“People will not talk about this in the military, they wait until they get out,” he said.
“The stigma needs to be taken away and [mental illness] needs to be treated like a physical injury.”
Soldier On chief executive and Afghanistan veteran John Bale said there was a long way to go within the defence forces because there was a belief that warriors should not feel these feelings.
He said the only way to eliminate the stigma attached to mental health was via education.
“It doesn’t exist within the ADF,” he said.
The fourth generation war veteran said there was still a long way to go in terms of the level of transitional support required for veterans leaving the military.
St John of God Hospital CEO David Burns with John Bale, CEO of Soldier On, opening a new gym provided by Soldier On at the hospital in Richmond, NSW. Source: News Corp Australia
Mr Bale said the defence force recognised the problem but did not take the time to deal with it.
“We are the people achieving better awareness of mental health,” he said.
Despite the strong criticism of the defence approach, the ADF’s own submission painted a rosy picture of an enlightened employer doing everything it could to support mentally ill troops.
“We aim to be responsive to the specific needs of the ADF population and their families,” it said.
“This includes assisting them to build and maintain their mental fitness at all stages of their career and as required, to assist them to access effective and timely treatment no matter what the cause or source of their illness or injury.”
The submission was not supported by any of the witnesses at the hearing with most saying it was often impossible for families to even get onto a base let alone seek help for their loved one.
Mr Bale said education about mental health should be conducted “off base” and heavily focused on families.
“Families are reluctant to endanger the member’s career,” Mr Bale said.
Robert Macdonald from the Australian Families of the Military Research and Support Foundation said families were deliberately kept out of the loop.
He said the breakdown of the family unit was a major contributor to suicide.
The husband of this Queensland family attempted suicide four weeks ago by taking a cocktail of prescription drugs and alcohol. Picture: Jamie Hanson Source: News Corp Australia
“Families are usually the first to know something is wrong.”
The foundation said the system for dealing with the mental health of serving troops and veterans was dysfunctional and characterised by “silos within silos”.
For example Mr Macdonald said it was amazing that there was no accurate record of suicides among defence members and veterans.
The Foundation said it sincerely hoped that the Senate Inquiry did not result in changes that merely turned the system around without removing its complexities.
Sine 2009 Defence has spent $146 million on mental health services and support.
Its submission said that to break down mental health stigma and reduce barriers to care there could be no hierarchy of mental illness such as those caused by operational service versus those from non-operational causes.
Any veteran or serving member who feels they need help should contact the RSL, Soldier On, Mates 4 Mates, the Australian Defence Force Assistance Trust or Lifeline — either online or on 13 11 14.
View the original content and more from this author here: http://ift.tt/1O38UUY
from health IT caucus http://ift.tt/1LF5APE
via IFTTT
No comments:
Post a Comment