Check Your Mates campaign launched to help reduce veteran suicide

#CheckYourMates: Amid the Christmas parties and holiday cheers find a moment to check in on your mates to help reduce veteran suicide

AMID the Christmas parties and holiday cheers find a moment to check in on your mates, that’s the call from a local veteran support service.

Operation Compass and The OASIS Townsville on Friday revitalised its #CheckYourMates campaign which encouraged people to check in with a least five people as a first step to reducing veteran suicides.

OASIS chair Lieutenant general John Caligari said one call or connection during a tough time could literally change a life this holiday season.

New data released earlier this year showed the number of serving and former Australian Defence Force veterans who took their own lives was much higher than previously reported.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare figures revealed more than 1200 died by suicide between 2001 and 2019.

Suicide rates for serving members are significantly lower than the general community, but increase significantly for both men and women upon discharge.

Lt Gen Caligari attributed a loss of support and camaraderie to the increased suicide risk faced by veterans upon discharge from the ADF.

“When you are in the service everything is about team work,” he said.

“You work on weekends if you have to you work all night. they do things that are hard.

“They are the sort of people that don’t ask for help … because they are used to having a team.”

The launch of the #CheckYourMates campaign aligns with the opening of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide in Brisbane on Friday.

Operation Compass project manager Adriel Burley said recent world events and the increased focus on issues facing veterans in national media made the campaign particularly relevant this year.

Mr Buckley said whether it be a phone call, a catch-up, fishing, a game of golf, a meal or any activity that provides a human connection it was important to ensure the conversations we more than surface level.

“It is not a checklist,” he said.

“We are wanting meaningful conversations that go somewhere.

“In a Garrison city like Townsville, checking in on anybody will invariably help the veteran community.”

#CheckYourMates focuses on the principals of Connecting with others, Yarning to listen and Motivating to act.

Originally published as Check Your Mates campaign launched to help reduce veteran suicide