Andrew Wallace (Fisher, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you. I am happy to take up the time! In 2013, of the 148,000 veterans with service-related disabilities being supported by the Department of Veterans' Affairs, 46,400—almost a third—were living with an accepted mental-health disorder. These included post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, depression and substance dependency.

In too many cases, these conditions can have tragic consequences. Towards the end of last year, the government released the most statistically robust data on the prevalence of suicide among current and former members of the ADF ever compiled. The figures, in themselves, make for devastating reading. In the 13 years to 2014, there were 292 deaths by suicide among people who had served in the ADF for at least one day since 2001—292 men and women who had done our nation proud and put their lives on the line to keep us all safe. Even one such death is too many, and, no doubt, these figures are an underestimation, as no data is available for those whose service occurred before 2001.

When examined in more detail, however, the statistics reveal an even more alarming fact which needs to be urgently addressed. Among serving male members of the ADF, after adjusting for age, the suicide rate was 53 per cent lower than the general male population. I can only speak about men, as the sample of women in the report was too small to create statistically valid results. Among men in the Reserve, the rate was 46 per cent lower. These figures are good news, and are testament to the ADF's work to support their soldiers through the most challenging and stressful environments. However, among veterans—ex-servicemen—the suicide rate was 13 per cent higher than for the equivalent general population. The day that a man leaves the armed force, his likelihood of death by suicide rises from 53 per cent lower than others his age to 13 per cent higher. Worse still, if he is a young man aged 18 to 24 who has served in and left the ADF, he becomes twice as likely as his peers in civilian life to die by his own hand. There have been 23 deaths since 2001 among this statistically small group alone.

I know that the minister has as keen an interest as I have in seeing a solution to these problems. In my own electorate of Fisher, the government has recently committed $5 million to the Sunshine Coast Mind & Neuroscience Thompson Institute for research and treatment programs for youth mental health, suicide prevention and dementia. I am proud of what we are delivering and grateful to the government. As I have mentioned to the minister before though, my next goal in this field is to secure further funding to support a PTSD program at the Thompson Institute. I look forward to working with him in the future to explore this possibility. If anyone watching or reading this speech is worried about how they or someone they know from the veteran community is coping, I urge them, on behalf of all members, to seek help early. The Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service is the perfect place to start to find support. They can be reached 24 hours a day on 1800 011 046.

Minister, what is the government doing to support the mental health of veterans of the ADF, and what action is the government taking in the area of suicide prevention for these men and women who have done their country proud?

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