September 13, 2017 by Leave a Comment

PTS 17 Forum – Radio Interviews of Noted Participants

 

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Steve Austin broadcast his ABC Radio 612 4QR Brisbane breakfast show from, the PTS Forum in Brisbane on 8th September 2017.  You can listen to the broadcast here
Steve is a respected and noted questioning and searching interviewer of his guests as you will hear. He has obviously researched the subject and asks searching questions that expose the facts of PTS on everyone.

He interviewed the following persons:
1. Kerri-Ann Welch (start at 22.15 minutes)

2. The White Cloud Foundation ( from 23.12 minute)

3. Dan Tehan (DVA Minister) (from 36.55 minute)

4. Tony Dell ( Principal Stand Tall) (from 53.55 minute)

5. Combat Stress (from 1 hour.01.26 minute)

6. Cameron & Melissa Smith. RAAF Veteran PTS husband and his wife relate their family experiences (from 1.07.00 minute)

7. Richard McLaren – RAAF Vietnam and after service a photographer of display Before/During/After Service (from 1.36.26 minute)

8. Stuart McCarthy & Prof Jane Quinn on neuro-toxic medications Mefloquine (from 1.45.10 minute and ends at 2.02.00)

9. AVM Tracy Smart Commander Joint Health and Surgeon General of the Australian Defence Force. (from 2.03.55) on resilience and questioned on Mefloquine,

10. Dr Justine Evans (Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation) and Dane Christison (Principal of Thrive to Survive Nation) (from 2. 14.15 to the end of the broadcast. This is a must listen to.interview that reveals Dane’s (a younger PTS veteran) self funded contribution to helping others. The RARA supports Dane’s Program

Filed Under: Activities, Home, Mental Health, Mental Health
September 7, 2017 by 1 Comment

Opinion – Drill foot sores get the boot

THE aim of close order drill, it was said, was to instil into the individual soldier a sense of instinctive obedience required of him at all times.
This was critical in those days when male troops marched to combat in formation, then deployed in predetermined, practised tactical postures to engage an enemy.
Whether they faced their foe in a square or in three ranks, those rehearsed drills were essential in ensuring maximum fire could be brought to bear from single shot muskets, or to prevent a foe from breaching a line.
These days drill is purely ceremonial, an ancient relic restricted to basic training and occasional regimental displays.
Drill’s most passionate practitioners, drill instructors or drillies, are without doubt the military’s prima donnas, by one definition “a very temperamental person with an inflated view of their own talent or importance”.
Now it seems drillies and prima donna ballerinas may have more in common than once presumed, while standard military footwear has left a sad legacy of lifelong injury.
Filed Under: Health, Home
August 31, 2017 by 2 Comments

Veterans Deserve to Benefit

THE TOWNSVILLE BULLETIN TACKLING BUREAUCRATIC INTRANSIGENCE – Bulletin Editor Ben English has championed veterans issues since assuming the role. This compassionate, insightful and powerful editorial deserves to be shared.

“WHEN Australia’s repatriation department was established after World War I, a fundamental principle in determining any benefits claim was when in doubt, the veteran should be given the benefit of that doubt.
In Townsville there is little doubt the anti-malarial drugs mefloquine, tafenoquine and primaquine can have long-term adverse health consequences for some individuals who have taken them.
That is why the Repatriation Medical Authority’s decision to categorically rule out a link between anti-malarial drugs and brain injury in ADF members appears to be, at best, a premature one. At worst, it is a decision that may well come back to haunt the RMA in the same manner as the Agent Orange scandal in the decades following Vietnam. Both mefloquine and tafenoquine were trialled on Townsville-based personnel deployed to East Timor and Bougainville at the turn of the century…”

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Filed Under: DVA, Fair Go Campaign, Health, Home, Media Releases
August 27, 2017 by 2 Comments

FIRST CAMP FOR CHILDREN OF VETERANS AFFECTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS

The first Kookaburra Kids Foundation camp for children of current and former Australian Defence Force (ADF) families affected by mental illness will take place this weekend.
The camp will give the children the opportunity to have fun in a supportive environment while also learning about mental illness and developing coping and resilience skills.
More than 30 children from the ACT region will participate in the camp which includes a range of activities led by qualified volunteer leaders.

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Filed Under: Activities, Assistance, Home, Mental Health
July 29, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Survive to Thrive Program

The Post War Survive to Thrive Online Course is an eight module, personal development coaching program. It was developed from first-hand military experience by Dane Christison (RAR) of learning to survive and thrive with post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression. It also helps a participant understand, adapt, and overcome the impact of transitioning from military to civilian life.

The course is suitable for current or former military members and their partners. It helps participants understand common mental health conditions arising from military service and training and how they impact behaviour. It also explains what to expect in civilian life and how to handle issues before serious problems occur.

Since its social media launch on  just over a week ago its has had over 125,000 viewings.

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“Don’t be the victim, be the victor”

 

 

 

 

 

Dane Christison

Filed Under: Assistance, Home, Mental Health
July 28, 2017 by 2 Comments

Increased risk of attempted suicide in Australian veterans

Increased risk of attempted suicide in Australian veterans is associated with total and permanent incapacitation, unemployment and posttraumatic stress disorder severity.

You can read the full paper on suicide amongst veterans conducted by Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation in conjunction with Toowong Private Hospital, and published this week in the Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry by clicking here.

Abstract

Background: Military veterans have higher rates of suicidality and completed suicides compared to the general population.  Previous research has demonstrated suicidal behaviour is higher in US combat veterans who are younger, suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety and score lower on measures of health. However, research on predictors of suicide for Australian veterans is limited. The aim of this study was to identify significant demographic and psychological differences between veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder who had attempted suicide and those with posttraumatic stress disorder who had not, as well as determine predictors of suicide attempts within an Australian cohort.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 229 ex-service personnel diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder who had attended a Military Service Trauma Recovery Day Program as outpatients at Toowong Private Hospital from 2007 to 2014. Patients completed a battery of mental health self-report questionnaires assessing symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, alcohol use, anger, depression, anxiety and quality of life. Demographic information and self-reported history of suicide attempts were also recorded.

Results: Results indicated the average age was significantly lower, and the rates of posttraumatic stress disorder, anger, anxiety and depression symptoms were significantly higher in those veterans with history of a suicide attempt. Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated posttraumatic stress disorder symptom severity, unemployment or total and permanent incapacity pension status significantly predicted suicide attempt history.

Conclusion: Among a cohort of Australian veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder, psychopathology severity, unemployment and total and permanent incapacity status are significantly associated with suicidality. This study highlights the importance of early identification of posttraumatic stress disorder and psychopathology, therapeutic and social engagement, and prioritisation of tangible employment options or meaningful and goal-directed activities for veterans deemed unable to work.

 

Filed Under: Health, Home, Mental Health
July 18, 2017 by Leave a Comment

TEHAN MEDIA RELEASE – INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE TO FOCUS ON VETERANS’ MENTAL HEALTH

Ministers from five countries, including Australia, will meet in London this week to explore challenges faced by contemporary veterans, and how governments can improve support services to help them achieve a fulfilling post-service life.

Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Minister Dan Tehan said the International Ministerial Conference on Veterans’ Issues would provide an opportunity to gain insights, in particular, into how our partner nations – Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and United States – deal with mental health issues and suicide prevention.

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Filed Under: Mental Health
June 30, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Tehan Media Release – Response to National Mental Health Commission Review

Tehan Media Release – Response to National Mental Health Commission Review

The Government is delivering improved mental health support for current and former Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and their families.

The Government today (30th June 2017) outlined the work it is doing on mental health and suicide prevention in its response to the National Mental Health Commission (NMHC) Review into the Suicide and Self Harm Prevention Services available to current and former serving ADF members and their families.

The Government’s response is available here .

The NMHC review helped inform the Government’s action on veterans’ mental health in this year’s Budget, which included an additional $58.6 million in mental health funding.

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Filed Under: DVA, Health, Home
June 22, 2017 by 2 Comments

Senate Inquiry into Veteran Suicide extended to 15 Aug 2017.

Suicide by veterans and ex-service personnel – Senate Inquiry Extended to 15 Aug 2017.

In terms of setting expectations, the committee emphasises that it is not in a position to address individual claims of rehabilitation or compensation for veterans and ex-service personnel. The committee’s focus is on the broad issues raised in the terms of reference of the inquiry.

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Filed Under: Health, Home
June 22, 2017 by Leave a Comment

QUT Evaluation of the PTSD Coach Australia App

A Queensland University of Technology (QUT) team is conducting an independent evaluation of DVA’s mobile application (app) PTSD Coach Australia with short phone interviews (20-30 minutes) and hands-on 2 hour workshops (for those in the South East Queensland area, clinicians awarded 2 CPD points).

They are looking for serving and ex-serving Defence members, and mental health clinicians working with Defence members to participate in this research.

You don’t need to have experienced trauma or PTSD symptoms to participate. If you are interested in contributing to research that will benefit serving and ex-serving Defence members, then contact QUT to register your interest by phoning 07 3069 7535 or email [email protected] and we will provide you with more information.

Please support this project and share this request with others who may be interested in participating.

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Filed Under: Health, Home
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