Minister for Health Greg Hunt and Minister for Veterans’
Affairs Dan Tehan today launched a children’s book
series that supports children from military and
emergency service families living with a parent who has
a mental health condition.
The first book, titled Do You Still Love Me? Because I Really Love
You! by author Heather Gibson, is a Military
Children’s Mental Health Education initiative, a project
of the Remembrance Foundation.
Mr Tehan said the Government recognised the
importance of supporting families as well as veterans.
“When someone signs up to serve in our armed forces,
their entire family is also volunteered so we have a
duty to support them,” Minister Tehan said.
“The Government is committed to supporting veterans
and their families, recently we launched a program with
Kookaburra Kids to run support camps for children of
veterans with mental health conditions.
“We have also extended access to the Veterans and
Veterans Families Counselling Service, including adult
children of post-Vietnam veterans.”
Minister Hunt said the Turnbull Government funds a
number of mental health programmes for children –
including the Children of Parents with a Mental Illness
initiative.
“I’m acutely aware that children can be impacted by
the mental health problems facing people around them,”
Minister Hunt said.
“I was the child of a mother with bipolar. I have
lived this experience myself. So I know how important it
is to provide support to those that need it.”
Founder of Modern Soldier and Remembrance Foundation
executive director Talissa Papamau said the book would
help better support military and emergency services
families.
“It is easier to build strong children than it is to
repair broken adults,” Ms Papamau said.
The books will be available for purchase online and
through the Modern Soldier social media platforms.
