Soldier tells of ordeal
Discharged soldier lives with stress after being told he was acting sick
AN ARMY medic who sustained a significant shoulder injury on the job was told by an army superior he was a malingerer.
Luke Ardill, who was medically discharged from the army in 2015, said if he had received the appropriate treatment for his shoulder injury when it happened, he would not have spiralled into depression and anxiety.
“I was treated like I was a malingerer, someone who acts sick but is not,” he said. “I was in pain every single day but I was treated like there was nothing wrong with me. So that then pushed me into depression and anxiety.”
Mr Ardill is sharing his story as part of the Townsville Bulletin’s campaign to shine a light on gaps in policy and current care models within the defence force.
The campaign aims to help improve the lives of current and ex- serving personnel and their families and stem the tide of poor mental health outcomes and suicide.
Mr Ardill, a father of one, said the army’s refusal to accept his injury as an ongoing one caused him great stress.
“The army not supporting my injury caused a lot of stress because I was in pain constantly,” he said.
“The last three years I was in the army, I can’t remember a day when I had no pain.
“The physiotherapists they have in the army are good but the way they have to run it … like a conveyor belt, didn’t help me much. Nothing was working, it wasn’t getting better. That was frustrating and then wearing my mental health down.”
Mr Ardill said he then started to get grief from one of his superiors.
“I had my 2IC calling me a malingerer, trying to charge me for anything, even if I wasn’t doing anything wrong,” he said.
“My other hierarchies would say to me I wasn’t doing anything wrong but at the end of the day those people were not doing anything to stop what was happening.”
Mr Ardill said he tried making it clear to the army that he needed help.
“No one was helping. I was screaming for help,” he said.
“I asked for help from my hierarchy. I went to the Lavarack Health Centre saying ‘ I’m struggling. This is what is happening’. I was telling every person who’d listen but nothing really got done. They said they would look into it but nothing happened.”
Mr Ardill said it was not until his wife, Krystal, contacted one of his superiors that steps were taken to address the situation.
“If a civilian calls and makes an observation, then it’s acted upon,” he said.
“When Krystal rang, the unit jumped up and down and took notice.”
Mr Ardill’s case was thoroughly examined by the medical board soon after.
“I told the med board what was happening and they were shocked this was the first time they were hearing about it,” he said. “They were very good. Stuff got done. I was being looked after.
“But by that time it was too late. I couldn’t stand being there any more and the shoulder wasn’t getting any better.”
Mr Ardill said he was advised, for his health and safety, to accept a medical discharge from the army.
“I was devastated in a way,” he said. “Although, by that point, I had no choice as I was at such a low point mentally. But I had signed up to the army as a long term, lifelong career. I never planned to be discharged.
“It hasn’t been an easy transition to make, going from a secure army career to being in the civilian space looking to find my own way while battling depression and anxiety.”
If you or someone you know needs help, support is available at Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you are an Australian veteran or family of a veteran, you can call the Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service on 1800 011 046.
I was in pain every single day but I was treated like there was nothing wrong with me. So that then pushed me into depression and anxiety LUKE ARDILL