The Morrison government has announced yet again another royal commission, this time into veteran and serving defence personnel suicides. The question is, is there anything to see here, and if there is what's to be done about it. Morrison said he hoped the commission would be a "healing process", at the moment the government is struggling to come up with the terms of reference for the inquiry. What is known is that there is evidence that there has been around 400 known veteran suicide cases dating back to 2001, but that figure has soared over the past 12 months. The 20 years of Australian involvement in the Afghanistan War resulted in 41 deaths.

Do yourself and Australia a favour, you miserable wretch, and see if your wife can get you into New Zealand to live.

How did this tragic phenomenon of suicide by soldiers evolve ? Is PTS perhaps pushed too much ? Could it be that the more faux sympathetic society becomes the more such stress escalates ?
We hear of too many succumbing to that but what actually causes it in the first place. Do these symptoms emerge on the battle field or after soldiers return home & get treated like second rate citizens by those they put their life on line for in the first place ?
Drug abuse before conflict seems to be a factor in the escalation of stress afterwards.
It could possibly help towards finding solutions if those suffering spoke out in places like here.

Dear paul1405,

Yes I think Jackie Lambie has done a fantasic job bring the PM kicking and screaming to the table on this and she deserves every credit.

There is little doubt that suicide inflicts a terrible toll on our society in general but on our returned service men and women in particular.

Added to that the recent finds of the criminal acts by a small portion of our troops in Afghanistan will be weighing heavily even on those who have served with distinction.

I believe a special debt is owed to those who our country sends overseas to fight on our behalf and it is very hard to see that it has been honoured fully by our government.

Dear Paul,

Thank You for bringing this topic up for discussion.

A Royal Commission is the way to go and hopefully their
findings and recommendations for reform will end up
being implemented. A big Thank You to Jacqui Lambie
and to our PM for doing something positive.
Perhaps something good will come out of all this.

Mental problems resulting from war, has most likely been with Australian soldiers since our first military conflict in the Boar War 1901. Concerns for returning troops was simply ignored or brushed aside, and having metal problems was seen as a weakness. Not until the Vietnam War was there momentum to at least look into the issues, but nothing concrete was done. Today there is some chance through a royal commission that the problems are going to finally be addressed. Jacqui Lambie was a leading political voice calling for a RC, she was also incensed somewhat yesterday with Morrison handing the job of drafting the terms of reference to a public servant. She thinks the PS is to be part of the enquiry, and having them determine the terms of reference is a conflict of interest, I think she's right.

ttbn, did Nursey slip you and extra "nasty pill" this morning.

There is nothing "nasty" about suggesting that you, as an Australian/Western hater would be happier in New Zealand with Comrade Ardern.

Just as Lange government turned its back on the ANZUS treaty by refusing to allow US nuclear warships to visit, the Ardern government is starting to turn its back on the Five Eyes, refusing to join the other four nations in condemning Communist China for its threatening behaviour and human rights abuses, signing up to the BRI, and sucking up to the totalitarians.

The NZ foreign minister has just given a sickening suckhole speech trumpeting their similarities with China, rambling on about the
Chinese dragon and a mythical Maori dragon- like creature. This is on top of another parliamentary spiv who told Australia we should be more 'respectful' to the atrocious CCP.

All the sort of stuff you love.

Over there, you would need to carry on about military forces because they don't have any worthy of name.

It's not because the 'Quin' would not sound as good as the 'Quad' that New Zealand isn't tied up with Australia, America, India and Japan in an ant-China bloc.

Dear Paul,

It is very concerning and -
suicides are a problem for society. They indicate
that something is very wrong and we need to look at
the causes and how to prevent them.

Coming from our
military - it is even more concerning -
or at least - it should be.
People who are supposedly trained in being able to
put up with a great deal are obviously not coping well.

I mentioned earlier - hopefully the Royal
Commission will be able to find some answers and make
recommendations as to what needs to be reformed so
that our men don't feel the need to take their own
lives. The stress must be very great on them. And as
Jacqui Lambie pointed out - it is a crisis and cannot
be ignored or brushed aside any longer.

Hi Foxy,

As a pacifist I don't condone war, I believe wars are the work of warmongering politicians, power seekers and profiteers. I see soldiers as mislead participants, often victims just as non combatants are. In my younger days I met a few returned nasho's from Vietnam, to say they were screwed up is an understatement, they all seemed to be suffering some kind of post traumatic stress syndrome, which I'm sure went undiagnosed and therefore untreated.

Hopefully this RC will highlight the problems, the causes and make recommendations, including changes need within the ADF, and how best to treat those at risk.

ttbn, you are an old fool who I have no time for. You think you run this forum and are the guru of what opinions are acceptable and those that are not. Think of me what you like, I have no concern about what you think. Sit on it sunshine.

Dear Paul,

Fingers-crossed that the Royal Commission will be
listened to. I imagine though that Jacqui Lambie
and many others -
will have a great deal to say if its not.

I agree Foxy, lets hope this royal commission unlike so many in the past on other matters can make recommendations that are acted upon by government. To often the findings of such enquiries are stymied by having too limited terms of reference, or the recommendation are pigeon hold and never fully acted on. I want to see far reaching terms of reference and appropriate action taken when the outcome is known. To often Politian's will call a RC simply as a smoke screen to buy them time over an issue. I hope this is not the case.

I bet I know why they're killing themselves.
- Because they have no moral high ground for the wars they take part in.

Simples.

They do a job thinking they're defending our country and find themselves as global mercenaries defending oil pipelines and poppy fields.

If I shot up a village of innocent farmers and women and kids, all to defend oil pipelines and poppy fields I'd probably want to kill myself too, once I was left to my own thoughts long enough to think about it.

Hi AC,

Good point, but when you start bring up those issues you open a can of political worms. Decisions taken by Politian's are brought into question, did so and so lie to the nation, and look at the result for young people. Its far more comfortable saying; Johnny was normal, Johnny went off to war, Jonny seen and done terrible things, Johnny came back not normal, Johnny killed himself, end of story.

Morrison tried to duck this one with a so called permanent national commissioner for veteran suicides. Such a commissioner was not acceptable to those close to the victims, as it was seen for what it was, a political move to restrict investigation.

Good on the accidental politician Jacqui Lambie, for pushing for a royal commission. No doubt Jacqui had to do some political trading with the government to achieve this, but it may well prove to be worth it.

As a pacifist I don't condone war,
Paul1405,
So, can we confidently assume that you don't condone defence either ? Are you telling us that in the case of an attack on Australia you'll not come bleating for help & demand that others put their life on the line for you ?
You see, war results from defending against an aggressor. As a Pacifist who won't fight you're doing a pretty good job of stirring crap about the invasion of Australia. As a Pacifist shouldn't you just accept what happened ? You seem to be accepting of the scenario that played out in NZ where they still oppose the British invasion but not the Maori one !
I think you can safely be branded as a hypocritical racist & callous opportunist !

Hi Paul,

Jacqui Lambie has always pushed for what she
believes in and tells it like it is. Thank
Goodness for that! And having served in the
military she knows what she's talking about.
The Royal Commission will hopefully bring
good results. At least the problems are now
out in the open and shall be examined.

I've come across an article in one of the woman's
magazines in my doctor's office.

It deals with a wife's struggle to help her
army vet husband through the struggles of adjusting
to life after the army. He was medically discharged from
the service 20 years ago. He left the force after
breaking his back. Shaken by his time serving in East
Timor, he'd been left with PTSD, anxiety, depression and
chronic pain - which came to a head last year when he
attempted to take his own life.

His wife turned to "Mates4Mates" a charity that provides
physical, psychological and social support for veterans,
current-serving members and their families.

A Mates4Mates regular now for 3 years his wife credits
the tight-knit community for getting her and her husband
through their darkest hours.

I thought that this may help anybody reading this discussion
who needs help. There is light at the end of
the tunnel. And
things will get better. Believe it.

People may not be able to do it on their own but there is help
out there.

To find out more about Mates4Mates or make a donatio0n, visit
http://www.mates4mates.org

There's also:

Defence Family Helpline: 1800 624 608

Lifeline: 13 11 14

Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467

BeyondBlue Support Service: 1300 22 4636

I hope this helps.

woman's magazine..
Foxy,
How un-PC ;-)

Indy, you must be the biggest hypocrite on the forum, you now demand young people be thrust into national service, yet you once boasted on this forum how in the Vietnam War days you avoided national service, or any voluntary enlistment. Gee, what a hypocrite! Want to deny that, what's your excuse?

Individual,

Reading women's magazines is not politically
correct according to you?

It seems not all of us share the same hang ups.

once boasted on this forum how in the Vietnam War days you avoided national service, or any voluntary enlistment
Paul1405,
You keep proving your silliness time & time again. I never once "boasted" about not serving, I clearly stated that I wasn't a Citizen then & therefore wasn't considered to serve.
As for voluntary enlistment, I can assure you that I have always been there & helped in situations of emergency when requested.
That reminds me, I have always wondered how those two little boys on the Gold Coats got on after I saved them from drowning in a canal back in about 1977.

"I have always wondered how those two little boys on the Gold Coats got on after I saved them from drowning in a canal back in about 1977."

Don't know Indy, after all you're the one beating his own drum.

Don't know Indy, after all you're the one beating his own drum.
Paul1405,
Well, just wondering if one of them was you, I wouldn't feel at all good about diving in !

Surely anything we can do to transform anyone's life
is a good thing? That's one of the things I love
about this country - that Australians do come together
in times of crisis and help each other and others.

Australians do come together
Foxy,
I'm all for it & always have been but how do we get that good will across to those who perpetually bring up wrongs done by those no longer with us to those no longer with us ?
How can we get to Day 1 of making things better without making irrationality a criminal offence ?

Individual,

We keep persevering. We don't allow ourselves to
be dictated to by Nay sayers. We know what's right
and we keep on doing what's right. We don't allow
negativity to take control - otherwise nothing
will get done. Inaction is not an answer. Compromise
though can work wonders. Meeting someone half way is
also not a bad thing. Showing respect for the opinions
of others (often hard to do) but wonders can be
achieved. Miracles can and do happen.

As far as our military personnel are concerned
we cannot turn our backs on them. There is a crisis
with the suicide rates - and a Royal Commission
should provide some answers and reforms. It needs
to be done. Bravo to Jacquie Lambie and our PM
for doing something about it.

Stop sending them to fight other peoples wars and maybe they'll stop killing themselves

- There I just save the nation 20 million dollars -

But as Paul pointed out, that answer isn't going to fly so they'll waste the 20 mil anyway and then they'll come out and try and baffle us all with some feel-good bs...

- Move along nothing to see here -

Fighting overseas was a total waste of everything because eventually small groups of the enemy were then brought here & they're now growing in numbers !

What gets right up my nose is how the war mongers and politicians who deliver the rah-rah-rally-the-troops jingolistic speeches farewelling the troops about to do battle and perhaps make 'the ultimate sacrifice' are so totally and completely abandoned should they unfortunately return home scarred (either physically or mentally).

An inquiry regarding this issue is well overdue. However, I am not hopeful that anything material will result. After all, how many RC's have we had and nothing has changed - the RC into black deaths in custody, the RC into the banking industry are but 2 examples.

the RC into black deaths in custody
Aries54,
Would the outcome be accepted if it the findings were correct ?