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That company’s chief executive, Alan Sparks, said it had developed guidelines for talking to veterans about PTSD that he hoped would be useful.
“I’ve personally interviewed more than 460 veterans and found they can benefit from revealing the impact of their service life, but the majority are reluctant,” Sparks said.
“This research is an opportunity to examine a critical key to veterans’ wellbeing.”
Between 1 and 2 per cent of Australians experience PTSD each year, and up to 12 per cent will experience it in their lifetime, according to mental health advocates at SANE Australia.
The proportion of veterans who experience PTSD is higher than the general population and was highlighted as an issue in the royal commission’s recent interim report, which was handed down last month.
In his response to the report, Veterans’ Affairs Minister Matt Keogh acknowledged that more serving personnel and veterans had died by suicide than the total number of Australians killed during operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“It is a great tragedy that successive Australian governments have failed those who have served our nation,” Keogh told parliament at the time.
“Governments have also failed the families of those people; families who have carried a heavy burden of their own through the pain and suffering they have experienced.”
O’Quinn said the pilot study would interview a number of veterans who were transitioning to civilian life, or had already done so, to get their insights into how best to approach the issue.
“The ownership of this disclosure process needs to always reside with the veteran. It should be up to them if, when and how they disclose any type of medical or trauma-related diagnosis,” he said.
“But there are a number of organisations – employers and the like – who are willing and able and concerned about their employees and want to assist.
“If we can match those expectations and accommodate a smoother understanding between both sides, that would be ideal.”
Originally published at Sydney News HQ
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