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| A clean bill Edition 4908, 17 May, 2007 |
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“The mental health of our members is just as important to Defence as their physical wellbeing,” ACM Houston said. “This fact is clearly reflected in the excellent multidisciplinary initiatives and programs developed to monitor and assist our sailors, soldiers, airmen and airwomen, particularly those returning from operations overseas. “These comprehensive mental health programs have been specifically designed to identify problems and assist our people to return to a normal life on completion of their deployment.” Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Bruce Billson said that deploying overseas on operations was, without question, a difficult thing to do. “Physically, psychologically, emotionally, there are costs to those who go overseas to serve,” he said. “But the ADF has one of the nation’s best mental health programs, which is completely comprehensive and looks at not only preventative factors, but building up knowledge, clinical awareness, treatment and support services. And after a member leaves the Defence Forces, there is still a continuum of care.” Director of Mental Health GPCAPT Len Lambeth said not all people reacted the same way to the same traumatic incidents and, consequently, not everyone would show the symptoms of mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). “As with any health-related condition, PTSD should be treated as early as possible to achieve the best outcome for the sufferer,” GPCAPT Lambeth said. “Therefore, it is very important for people to be aware of the symptoms of PTSD and other issues and endeavour to keep an eye open for these symptoms in themselves and in others, especially in those who have experienced stressful circumstances.” He said it was also important to remember that if someone showed some symptoms, such as irritability, lethargy or sleeplessness, it did not mean they actually had the full-blown disorder and, as such, early treatment could actually prevent full onset. ACM Houston said Defence had invested significant resources in mental health programs including the implementation of a comprehensive suicide prevention program as part of the ADF Mental Health Strategy. Education of members on the signs and symptoms of mental health issues, how to recognise the signs in themselves and others, and where to seek help is another area that has received a lot of attention. Defence recognises the importance and value of its long-established Deployment Health Surveillance Program and has also initiated a research project by the Centre for Military and Veterans’ Health (CMVH), a consortium of specialists from the University of Queensland, University of Adelaide and Charles Darwin University, to examine the long-term health issues of deployed personnel. ACM Houston said that while physical and mental health assessments and support were a mandatory part of operations, it was important that all returning ADF members actively participated and supported these programs. See 'SICK PARADE' for details on the signs and symptoms critical in the prevention of suicide. View Defence’s Mental Health Strategy at www.defence.gov.au/dpe/dhs/mentalhealth |
