The
Government today released the most statistically robust
data ever compiled into the prevalence of suicide among
current and former members of the Australian Defence
Force (ADF).
The
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) study
Estimation of incidence of suicide in ex-serving
Australian Defence Force personnel used data from
the Defence Department’s Personnel Management Key
System, which contains information on all people who
serve or have served in the ADF from 1 January 2001, and
the National Death Index (NDI). The NDI is a
Commonwealth database that contains records of deaths
registered in Australia since 1980. Data comes from
Registrars of Births, Deaths and Marriages in each
jurisdiction, the National Coronial Information System
and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
To protect
the integrity of the data, the study only included
deaths that were officially recorded as a suicide by the
Registrars of Births, Death and Marriages in each state
and territory and the National Coronial Information
System, compiled by the ABS. Certified cause of death
data were available up to and including 31 December
2014. This study is ongoing and the Government will
update the results as new data becomes available.
Minister
for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Dan Tehan
said the study was an important development to further
understand suicide in the veteran community.
"One
suicide is one too many and the Government is committed
to addressing suicide in our community," Mr Tehan said.
"The
figures released today are the first accurate, robust
data ever produced on suicide among the serving, reserve
and ex-serving populations.
"This is
the start of an ongoing, long-term project that will
help us better understand the extent of the issue and
inform our efforts to ensure people who need help get
help."
The AIHW study found that between 2001 and 2014:
● there were 292 deaths by
suicide among people with at least one day of ADF
service since 2001. Of these:
○ 84 occurred in the serving
full-time population
○ 66 occurred in the reserve
population
○ 142 occurred in the ex-serving
population
○ 272 were men and 20 were women
○ 66 were people aged 18–24
○ 58 were people aged 25–29
○ 46 were people aged 30–34
○ 122 were people aged 35 and
over
● after adjusting for age, when
compared with all Australian men, the suicide rate was:
○ 53% lower for men serving
full-time
○ 46% lower for men in the
reserve
○ 13% higher for ex-serving men
● there were 23 deaths among
ex-serving men aged 18–24, which is a suicide rate
almost twice that of Australian men of the same age
● the low number of female suicide
deaths in the study did now allow for valid comparisons
with the general population.
Because the
Personnel Management Key System only began operation in
2001, there was no data on ADF personnel who served or
separated before 1 January 2001.
Mr Tehan
said the AIHW data would provide valuable insights for
suicide prevention projects already underway.
"DVA spends
about $187 million each year providing mental health
support to veterans and their families and the
Government has announced an additional $192 million over
the next four years to tackle mental health challenges
across our community," Mr Tehan said.
"From 1
July this year, the Government made mental health
treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder,
depression, anxiety and alcohol and substance misuse
free for anyone who has served one day in the ADF. This
treatment is demand driven and fully funded, so if
someone needs treatment, it is available — it is not
limited by budget.
"In August,
we announced the National Mental Health Commission would
review the suicide and self-harm prevention services
provided by Defence and the Department of Veterans’
Affairs.
"A Suicide
Prevention Trial Site with a focus on veterans’ mental
health is being rolled out in Townsville — home to a
large ADF and veteran community. This will be one of 12
innovative, front-line trial sites in our fight against
suicide which will improve our understanding of the
challenges and help develop best-practice services that
can be applied nationwide.
"Minister
Ley and I will be holding a roundtable with local
stakeholders in Townsville next week to discuss this
issue and hear ideas that will help shape the new
landmark suicide prevention trial in the region.
Consultation and collaboration will be critical to the
success of this trial.
"We are
providing a $6 million investment in Phoenix Australia
to improve our understanding of mental health challenges
and develop better treatment for our veterans and the
wider community.
"We are
providing $3.1 million to extend the Veterans and
Veterans Families Counselling Service, which provides
free and confidential, nationwide counselling and
support for war and service-related mental health
conditions, as well as $4 million to ex-service
organisations to promote social inclusion and
peer-to-peer support for younger veterans.
"We are
continuing suicide prevention efforts in the veteran
community by running the Operation Life suicide
prevention and awareness workshops and a pilot program
to support a more targeted approach to suicide
prevention.
"If anyone
is worried about how they are coping or feeling, then
seek help early. If you know someone and are worried
about them, speak up and ask for help. The Veterans and
Veterans Families Counselling Service is a specialised,
free and confidential Australia-wide support service and
operates 24 hours a day on 1800 011 046."
Minister
for Health Sussan Ley said the data in the AIHW report
was vital to being able to provide better targeted,
accessible and effective mental health services for our
veterans.
"Mental
health, and more specifically the mental health of our
veterans, is a top priority of the Turnbull Government
and we are tackling it on a range of fronts, through our
ongoing mental health reform package," Minister Ley
said.
"The
Coalition is committed to strengthening mental health
care and suicide prevention across Australia, with its
pledge of $192 million over the next four years on new
mental health care programmes.
"The
Government’s nationwide network of localised primary
health care organisations – Primary Health Networks –
will play a key role in planning and commissioning
mental health services tailored to local communities’
needs."
Detailed
findings by demographic and service specific
characteristics and more complete population-level
comparisons are expected by mid-2017.
For free
mental health treatment, veterans should call the
Department of Veterans’ Affairs on 133 254 or, for
regional callers 1800 555 254, or email
nlhc@dva.gov.au. For
more information, they can visit
www.dva.gov.au/nlhc.
Note to editors:
Reporting of suicides has potential to cause distress
and care should be taken in the format and presentation
of these research findings – refer to
http://www.mindframe-media.info/for-media
for guidance.
Please include the contact
details for the Veterans and Veterans Families
Counselling Service in any reporting about this study.
VVCS provides crisis support and counselling 24/7 on
1800 011 046.
