Julie-Ann Finney overwhelmed by response over her call for royal commission into military suicides

The Adelaide mother of a former Navy sailor who died by suicide, said she had been “overwhelmed” by the response over her call for a royal commission into the “suicide crisis” among ADF personnel.

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The Adelaide mother calling for a royal commission into the “suicide crisis” among Australian Defence Force personnel says she has been inundated by veterans considering taking their own lives.

Julie-Ann Finney, whose son David, a former Australian Navy sailor died by suicide in February, said she had been “overwhelmed” by the response since she broke her silence in an exclusive story with The Advertiser on Anzac Day.

“I’m begging them (veterans) to get straight to a public hospital and not to wait for the DVA (Department of Veterans’ Affairs) to act,” she said.

“I’m overwhelmed and not qualified to help them but I ask them to get to hospital and stay with me for this fight for a royal commission because this is out of control.

“My son’s death traumatised hundreds of people and his death is one of hundreds in the defence forces so this epidemic, this suicide crisis is traumatising tens of thousands.”

Julie-Ann Finney with a picture of her son Dave. Picture: AAP / Brenton Edwards

Since 2000, an estimated 577 serving members and veterans of the Australian Defence Force have died by suicide. Veteran’s organisations say that since Anzac Day, a further eight have died.

Ms Finney, from Blair Athol says Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Darren Chester is “blocking” her calls for a royal commission.

She is frustrated by the minister’s insistence that her son was “receiving good support from mental health specialists and the “DVA handled the case properly”.

“Darren Chester said that my son’s care was good which is typical of the misinformation put out by the ADF and the VDA,” Ms Finney added. “My son served the country for 20 years, they made him, they broke him and they threw him away.

“My son did have a good psychiatrist but he was a seven-hour round trip away. There was no psychiatrist in his area (Canberra) — and when he wanted to see one urgently, he was told to wait six months. He was dead within three months.

Minister for Veterans Affairs Darren Chester.

“Darren Chester said that wasn’t the information he received, well I’ve got it in writing.

“You only have to look at my petition to know Australians are demanding a royal commission — nothing less will do,” she said. “So far, he (Mr Chester) is blocking that.”

Ms Finney’s petition on the platform Change.org calling for a royal commission has exceeded 200,000 signatures and is one of the fastest growing petitions in the seven-year history of the organisation.

“It’s been massive and still growing as we are seeing more than 2000 signatures a day,” Change.org campaign director Nic Holas said.

“This is not a left/right political issue which is why it’s resonating so strongly.

“I challenge anyone not to be moved by Julie-Ann’s story of David and to be full of awe and respect for her mission.”

In a statement to The Advertiser, the Minister said he had offered to sit down with Ms Finney, who has agreed to a meeting.

“I want to listen to Mrs Finney’s ideas on how we can prevent any further losses in the future, he said.

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