Shocking toll on veterans

FORMER servicewomen are twice as likely to take their own lives than other Australians, and ex-servicemen face a 24 per cent higher risk of suicide than the general public, an alarming new study shows.

But some veterans face a significantly higher suicide risk than others, the report found, including younger men, men who served in the Australian Defence Force for less than a year, and men forced to leave on medical grounds.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report is the fourth annual report into suicides among members of the ADF and investigated 1273 suicide deaths between 2001 and 2019.

This year’s AIHW report also incorporated details of an additional 149,000 ADF members going back to 1985.

For support, please contact Open Arms Veterans and Families Counselling on 1800 011 046 or Lifeline on 13 11 14