Suicide rates among returned service men and women could increase significantly as some veterans leave the military without accessing support.
(Transcript from World News Radio)
There are fears suicide rates among returned service men and women could increase significantly as some veterans leave the military without accessing support.
Both the Defence and the Veterans Affairs Departments do offer support programs, but many soldiers are believed to discharge with undiagnosed mental health issues.
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"I used to sit in the toilets toward the end of my trip with my service pistol and put it to my head and just think it'd be so much better if I pulled the trigger and ended my life. When I tried to gas myself .. I had a car and I was just about to fall asleep and all I could think of was my family and I just started crying."
The confronting admission comes from former combat engineer Brett Wiggins.
Most momentoes of his army service are tattoed on his arm.
He burned the rest in drug-fuelled rage - bar a couple of photos and service medals salvaged by his mother.
A tour of East Timor plunged Mr Wiggins into depression.
On return to Australia, he says he "self medicated" with alcohol and illicit drugs.
"It made me forget what I'd been through .. it made me stop feeling the emotions I was feeling it just took me away. Just feeling horrible that people were getting killed and we couldn't do anything about it feeling resposible for that was really hard. I suppose it reached a peak when we had a parade for our CO (Commanding Officer) who was leaving and I put my rifle down and walked off parade and went and sat in the transport sheds until they found me and they sent me to the base hospital. I was a mess basically I was stressed I couldn't cope and it felt like things were falling down around me."
Now 34, and studying information rechnology, Brett Wiggins also volunteers at a suburban opportunity shop that raises funds for veterans' support.
He says it's helped his recovery, which had been made worse by difficulty in accessing entitlements and what he describes as a lack of recognition of his post-deployment depression.
"I'd been told by people that I wasn't a real veteran because I was just a peace keeper - the psychologist told me that my problems weren't from East Timor because it was just peacekeeping and it wasn't that bad."
Brisbane psychiatrist Dr Andrew Khoo identifies mental health "stigma" as a real issue in the military.
Part of the problem, Dr Khoo says, is that the military is male dominated and competitive, with both physical and psychological strength celebrated, and weakness not tolerated.
But he says the real problem is identifying and treating those who discharge from the military and are effectively lost to the robust suicide prevention programs offered by both Defence and Veterans Affairs Departments.
"They effectively fall through the cracks and become lost to avenues of care and it's this cohort of defence personnel that I worry about. That's the problem. Because we don't know how many fall into that category, we don't know how many are suffering mental issues and maybe contemplating and even completing suicide."
Defence says since completing a thorough external review of its suicide program in 2012, it's been offering a mandatory suicide awareness package.
The Department of Veterans Affairs says its focus is on early intervention and seeks to make veterans aware advice and support is available throughout their civilian lives.
John Jarrett runs veterans' support group "Young Diggers", which includes a program training and donating companion dogs for returned service men and women.
Mr Jarrett agrees the real issue is identifying those who are no longer eligible for military assistance, and for whatever reason don't seek help.
"They're very badly wounded either physically or mentally they don't want their mates to know because it's a sign of weakness take admin discharge or voluntary discharge. These young people are now civilians and it is a community issue and we need to step up and help these guys who put their hand up to fight for our nation."
Mr Jarrett believes all former soldiers should be encouraged to discharge through a scheme similar to the Army Reserve, where their mental health can be closely monitored.
"They can keep track of these guys and if they don't turn up why don't they turn up? Contact their family and see if there's problems. This is what I consider the easy way of doing it."
Former soldier Brett Wiggins says donning a badge at the opp-shop has helped keep him stay clean and focus after his post-deployment battle with depression and drugs.
"Just doing volunteer work helps with my self esteem. It helps me think that I'm contributing to society. I've already inquired about other volunteer work I can do to kep myself busy and help improve my life."
But not everyone manages to battle through.
In January, Australian Army Captain and Afghanistan veteran Paul McKay was found to have taken his life in the United States.
John Jarrett had been in touch with Captain McKay, and had even selected him a companion dog.
"The dog that we were starting to get trained for him is actually going to one of his friends now. Disgusted that there's more flamin' suicides. This young man was a very very bright young man had a whole lot to look forward to but couldn't see it. Paul didn't need to be there and it's so sad there wasn't someone there to take him out of that dark place."
Free and confidential counselling for eligible veterans and their families is available from the Veterans And Veterans Families Counselling Service on 1800 011 046.
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/02/28/suicide-concern-among-aussie-veterans
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