Suicide prevention trial to kick off HELP FOR VETERANS
A MUCH- anticipated suicide prevention trial for Townsville veterans is edging closer to reality.
Operation Compass, a pilot exAustralian Defence Force and families suicide prevention project being sponsored by Northern Queensland Primary Health Network, will be launched in Townsville in Veterans Health Week this month.
Anita Brooker, one of the Operation Compass launch organisers, said the initiative would kick off at the Veterans off the Streets Australia annual community sleep- out at Strand Park on October 21 at 4pm.
Ms Brooker said the aim was to help members of the ex- Australian Defence Force community to transition to civilian life.
“An advisory group consisting of ex- ADF members, families, carers and service providers has been formed to provide expert input into the direction of the project,” she said. “The Townsville trial brings together the best evidence- based strategies and models to better target people at risk of suicide and ensure a more integrated regionally based approach to suicide prevention.”
Ms Brooker said an action plan would be available for the public to view at the launch of Veterans’ Health Week.
“This has been months in the planning with a lot of work going in behind the scenes,” she said. “We hope we can put strategies in place to stop exveterans getting to crisis point.”
According to a recent report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, between 2001 and 2014 there were 292 deaths by suicide among people with at least one day of service in the ADF.
Townsville has been chosen as a trial site in the Government’s $ 34 million commitment to fund and evaluate 12 suicide- prevention trial sites nationally.
The Department of Health will provide the Northern Queensland Primary Health Network with $ 3 million over three years to conduct the project and commission services.
Lieutenant General John Caligari ( retired) will chair the project’s steering committee. If you or someone you know needs help, support is available at Lifeline on If you are an Australian veteran or family of a veteran, you can also call the Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service on