Mental Health and the Military: A Royal Commission’s Response

An Ongoing Tragedy

An average of 78 serving or ex-serving members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) have died by suicide every year for the past decade.

In 2021, the government announced the formal establishment of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide to tackle this national tragedy.

A Government Response

Now, the Albanese government has released its response to the royal commission’s final report.

The government has agreed or agreed in principle to 104 out of the 122 recommendations put forward in the commission’s final report.

According to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the response presents an historic opportunity to deliver lasting reform and support our Defence personnel, veterans, and their families.

Mental Health and the Military

More than half a million Australians have served or are currently serving in the ADF.

Of serving members, 22% report mental health disorders. This rises to 46% among members who recently transitioned out of full-time service.

Ex-serving women are more than twice as likely to die by suicide compared with civilian women. While suicide rates for ex-serving men who leave the ADF voluntarily are comparable to age-matched civilian men, the suicide rate for men who leave service for involuntary medical reasons is almost three times as high.

The number of deaths by suicide over recent decades far outweighs the number killed in active duty.

How Did the Government Respond?

It’s very positive to see the government accept 104 of the commission’s 122 recommendations.

Throughout, the commitment to co-design, where the government will work with ex-service organisations, members, veterans, and their families in the design of support programs and guidelines, shows respect for military identity and lived experience.

Professional development is also a worthy priority, with enhanced military cultural competency training for health professionals and improved trauma-informed practice. Changes like these show an understanding of the unique challenges faced by service personnel and how military culture affects help-seeking.

The government’s ongoing commitment to clear the Department of Veteran’s Affairs’ (DVA) claims backlog will remove a major source of stress for veterans seeking help.

Finally, the move to establish a new inquiry into military sexual violence represents action on a significant problem in the ADF.

What’s Been Left Out?

Only one recommendation – to compensate veterans permanently injured in training at the same level as those injured in active service – was not supported.

The government’s decision to maintain the longstanding principle of higher compensation for active service touches on core questions about how we value different types of service.

Given many service members never deploy, it potentially devalues the service they do provide. My research has found not being deployed can have a negative effect on a defence member’s sense of identity and their perception of being a “warrior”. Rejecting this recommendation could contribute to identity disruption and poor mental health and wellbeing for those who don’t deploy.

People as the Greatest Asset?

In the government’s full response, it notes the establishment of a taskforce within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to consider those recommendations that have been agreed in principle and noted for consideration.

The government has noted 17 of the commission’s recommendations for further consideration.

One is a recommendation to increase the DVA’s fee schedule so it’s aligned with that of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. This essentially suggests paying more to health-care providers so they have greater incentive to provide care to military members.

The government’s response suggests a need