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Military law experts are anticipating confronting results from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide of Australian veterans, which has now concluded its investigation.
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The findings are expected to reveal the significant and troubling issues Australian Defence personnel face within the current support systems.
Brian Briggs, Slater and Gordon senior Australian military compensation legal counsel, said he routinely sees the profound physical and psychological trauma faced by veterans years after service.
“Despite mental health awareness and support being such a focus in society, particularly among young men, the issue is only getting worse.
“In Australia, we often have an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ approach to our veterans and service members. However, this doesn’t change the fact that our veterans, who sacrifice so much for this country, frequently face significant challenges when they return home,” Briggs said.
The commission has revealed that three veterans take their own lives every fortnight, with male serving and ex-serving Defence members being 30 per cent more likely to die by suicide compared to Australian-employed males.
“The numbers are shocking and it’s an issue that isn’t spoken about enough. What the numbers don’t tell is the impact these deaths have on family members, friends, communities, and society at large.
“While we’ve come so far in understanding mental health and breaking down stigmas, it’s still an uphill battle,” Briggs said.
The commission also uncovered that individuals serving in combat and security roles are twice as likely to die by suicide, while those who separated during initial training are 170 per cent more likely to take their own lives.
“Bringing these numbers and the broader conversation to light is a crucial first step, but a great deal of work remains to support and give back to those who have already given so much.
“We need to understand why this is happening, establish better support systems for reintegrating veterans, and determine how to best implement these systems and supports,” Briggs said.
