Defence White Paper focuses on mental health
With Australia’s role in Afghanistan winding down, there’ll be more young veterans returning from the front line than at any point since the Vietnam war. It’s likely to increase demand on mental health services. The new Defence White Paper includes a $25 million boost to help service personnel and their families deal with the problem. [...]
Abused Children May Get Unique Form of PTSD
Joe Mikos / Getty Images Child abuse scars not just the brain and body, but, according to the latest research, but may leave its mark on genes as well. The research, which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggests that abused children who develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may experience [...]
Workplace mental-health claims rising
Mental-health claims to WorkSafe B.C. — including bullying and harassment — are on track to more than double in the first year as new provincial legislation allows for a broader definition under the category. A new WorkSafe package of practices for employers, supervisors and workers to prevent and deal with bullying and harassment is also [...]
Mental health before centenary: RSL boss
State president Chris Munday says he’d prefer federal government money be spent on treating conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in 2015 than on the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing. “We’re spending about $150-odd million on the centenary,” Mr Munday said. “I’d like to be sure that enough money is being spent on [...]
End Mental Health Stigma and Disparity by Awarding the Purple Heart for War …
On 17 April 2013, a diverse group of veteran’s advocate organizations, military service agencies, and national mental health alliances will meet to discuss re-opening a controversial national campaign to award the Purple Heart, one of the oldest and most recognized American military medals, to service members who were killed or wounded by enemy action, for [...]
Mental health aid on the web
Veterans and Australian Defence Force seeking mental health support will benefit from a new web portal developed by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. The new At Ease portal offers pathways to achieving mental fitness and resilience, self-help tools, access to professional support, treatment options, healthy drinking and clinical information for GPs and mental health professionals. [...]
Gillard confronted by soldier with PTSD
Video: Julia Gillard admits to a returned soldier that support for returning military personnel need work. (ABC News) Prime Minister Julia Gillard has been confronted on talkback radio by a soldier who complained about a lack of support for mentally ill veterans. The man who identified himself as “Adam” says he returned from Afghanistan with [...]
Defence ‘ill-prepared’ for PTSD time bomb
Click to play video Soldiers who have served in Afghanistan say the Defence Department is unprepared for the number of servicemen who will return with post-traumatic stress disorder. Ray and Pam Palmer, the parents of commando Scott Palmer, who was killed in Afghanistan, are among those who believe the impact will be much higher than [...]
Defence leadership on soldier welfare comes from the top
Championing the mental health cause for the Australian Defence Force … Major-General John Cantwell. Photo: Steve Cassell Major-General John Cantwell has told a parliamentary inquiry the Defence Force needs to continue its efforts to de-stigmatise mental health problems if it is to deal with the growing number of veterans returning from operations with post traumatic [...]
Bogus or not, bullying claims are costly
Fine line: Proper training can help businesses prevent workplace bullying claims. Photo: Andrew Quilty A DRAMATIC increase in the number of workplace bullying allegations has placed huge pressure on small businesses forced to defend many frivolous claims. Mental health experts say the byproduct of increased reporting has been a surge in bogus claims levelled against [...]
