Soldiers in mental health battle
SUPPORT FOR PERSONNEL IS UNCLEAR
THE level of mental health support available to ADF troops deployed in potentially traumatic environments overseas is unclear.
A panel examined how the Australian Defence Force manages critical incidents and provides mental health support to members during deployment before the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide during the eighth day of public hearing in Townsville.
Joint Operations Command director of personnel Group Captain Karen Breaden told the commission “no and yes” when she was asked if it was standard for deployed contingents to include mental health professionals.
The commission was told the decision to call in emergency mental health support following a traumatic incident was left in the hands of a single person who has no formal mental health training.
Group Captain Breaden told the commission troops on deployment could access mental health support but said whether this was deployed with them, flown in as needed or available over the phone depended on the context.
She said a psychological element was on standby permanently to move within 24 to 48 hours.
“So if there is an incident overseas and we need to move those people quickly we have the ability to do so,” she said.
She said depending on the size of a contingent, a psychologist or another clinical professional would be “embedded in the contingent to deploy forward” – it was unclear through her evidence if the psychologists were embedded with troops or ready to deploy forward to support troops.
“(In) the larger the contingent, generally there will be a medical element that deploys,” she said. “If that is not the case, or the numbers are smaller, then we can either call on our coalition partners … but there is always a reach back to Australia for any support.
“Any time during that deployment … if a commander assesses a requirement … we will immediately … move a psychological capability forward.”
She said medical officers on the ground with troops did not “necessarily” have psychological training.
Although it was unclear if deployed contingents had mental health support sent with them, the commission was told a chaplain would “often deploy forward with (a) contingent” to provide spiritual and welfare support to members.
Counsel Assisting Erin Longbottom questioned Group Captain Breaden about how an individual member would access support if they needed it.
The group captain said Joint Operations would send in mid-deployment mental health support if requested by the deployed commander.
“It would depend on what the incident would be, how the commander has assessed that incident and the advice that the commander has received from medical health professionals,” she said.
The commission was told, in some circumstances, the chain of command would be informed if a member reached out privately for support.
“But at the end of the day if a member wants mental health support a member will be provided with that support – they can email, they can pick up the phone,” Group Captain Breaden said.