Strengthening veteran mental health

Greater mental health support will be available to Australia’s veteran community, with new measures to take effect from July next year.

The additional funding of $26.4 million over four years was announced in last week’s federal budget 2013-14.

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Warren Snowdon, said the additional funding would help with the prevention, early intervention and treatment of mental health conditions for  veterans and provide an improved compensation claims process.

Under the funding, $14.6 million will go to extending existing arrangements which support immediate treatment for diagnosed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, other anxiety disorders and depression, without the need to lodge a compensation claim. The arrangements will be extended to include treatment for alcohol and substance misuse disorders.

These arrangements, already available to ex-serving personnel with operational service, will also be extended to ex-serving personnel with eligible peacetime service since 1994.

This responds to the government’s commitment under the 2011 Review of Military Compensation Arrangements to examine further evidence on access to this treatment.

About $1.1 million will also go towards the establishment of a post discharge GP health assessment for former Australian Defence Force members.

“These steps are important to give wider access to treatment for mental health issues, a crucial move forward and a reminder of this government’s ongoing commitment to support Australia’s veteran and ex-service community,” Mr Snowdon said.

In addition, the federal government is also funding a range of initiatives designed to build mental health resilience.

A new online program called LifeSMART will build upon the successful Defence resilience program, Stress Management and Resilience Training, to provide a similar program for the ex-service community.

“LifeSMART will assist ex-servicemen and women with problems they may encounter in their daily lives, especially upon returning from service and transitioning back into civilian life,” Mr Snowdon said.

LifeSMART will be complemented by the establishment of a peer to peer support network to allow for ongoing support and care for the recovery of clients with a mental health condition.

“Trained peers will be matched to a person in need to assist in the development of coping strategies and management of the day to day challenges of life with a mental health condition,” Mr Snowdon said.

This Budget will improve processing for compensation claims, with a particular focus on the timeliness of claims for mental health conditions.

“To assist veterans with making claims for mental health conditions, the government will also develop new pathways for making access to Department of Veterans’ Affairs arrangements easier for clients with mental health conditions,” Mr Snowdon said.

“This includes helping to ensure that the compensation claims process does not exacerbate a client’s mental health condition.”

The funding in this Budget will strengthen and enhance the well established mental health programs that provide invaluable support when and where needed for Australia’s veterans.

“These men and women have fought for our country and have made sacrifices to ensure we live how we do today. They deserve the best support and care available, something this government is committed to providing,” Mr Snowdon said.