Save Our Heroes: Son on suicide watch made to march in uniform, summit told
One of the six mums addressing the Save Our Heroes Summit addressing the veterans’ suicide crisis has revealed how her son was made to march while on suicide watch while another said her boy was told by a psychologist he was no risk to himself or others.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Veteran son died ‘consumed by a loss of hope’
- Dad takes his own life after defence rejects pleas for help
An Australian serviceman who eventually took his own life was forced to march in uniform despite being on suicide watch, his devastated mother told a summit on the veterans’ crisis.
The tale came as shattered mothers of fallen Australian war heroes who died by suicide stripped bare grave institutional failures at the Save Our Heroes Summit on Wednesday amid calls for a royal commission into the veterans’ crisis.
Acting NSW Veterans Affairs Minister Geoff Lee told the summit that the state is backing the bid for a royal commission — which Prime Minister Scott Morrison has not ruled out — while also admitting the system was broken.
It was a system which the summit heard forced veterans to wait months and travel interstate to see a psychologist.
The gathering was also told how Diggers also face a barrage of more than 300 forms before they can access help.
One mother, Colleen Pillen, revealed to the summit her son was told by a psychologist now facing disciplinary action that he was not a risk to himself or others despite previous suicide attempts.
Her son Michael Powers was fighting until the end to have the same psychologist send medical documents to certify his medical discharge from the Australian Defence Force.
Another heartbroken mother, Julie-Anne Finney, told the summit how her son Dave was told he had to travel from the ACT to NSW to see a psychologist as he fought his mental demons — a battle he lost just months later.
“I’m not alone, I’m just one mother of 500... my experience is if you ask for help (the ADF) will ruin your career and when they discharge you, will never follow up or contact you.”
Ms Finney told how her son was forced to wear his Navy uniform and march despite being on suicide watch and his uniform being a mental trigger.
Nikki Jamieson said that experiences such as Julie-Ann’s were not unusual, with some soldiers facing charges while in hospital beds.
“This is a systemic and systematic issue. When a person is in the service they’re trained not to seek help for fear of being classified as a malingerer or ‘jack’.”
After meeting with the Prime Minister early on Wednesday, the mothers said a royal commission was not ruled out.
MORE FROM THE SAVE OUR HEROES CAMPAIGN
Veteran son died ‘consumed by a loss of hope’
Dad takes his own life after defence rejects pleas for help
‘It’s vital’: Veteran backs Save Our Heroes Summit
VC heroes want action on veteran suicide
During the meeting, Mr Morrison heard from Glenda Weston from Charters Towers in Queensland about her son, Afghanistan veteran Bradley Carr who was born on Remembrance Day and died on Anzac Day this year.
Ms Weston’s words were a reminder that these veterans were once “very important to Australia”.
“The suicide attempts, the triggers, flashbacks, sleep deprivation, the constant police welfare checks and the triple-zero calls, no one sees these situations and the government really don’t care,” she said last night. “Now they will see and be told finally.
“Thanks to Julie-Ann (Finney) and The Daily Telegraph for sharing my son’s horrendous journey of suffering and torment that he was forced to endure.”
Karen Bird from the Gold Coast was hoping to tell the PM about her son Jesse, also an Afghanistan veteran, who was unable to get help from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. He died with their rejection letters near him.
Jan Hewitt, from Perth, spoke of her son Brock, who was broken by his time in Afghanistan and after his death earlier this year she and his father now see their mission in life to be the voice of their veteran son.
MORE FROM SAVE OUR HEROES
Ben Roberts-Smith calls for accountability for veteran suicide
Grieving mum demands royal commission
‘In tears’: Death sparks new memorial for suicided veterans
Dad takes his own life after defence rejects pleas for help
Dead on Anzac Day, haunted by war’s horrors, broken by red tape
The mothers then revealed their sons’ harrowing ordeals at the summit yesterday morning which also heard from experts, including the Prime Minister’s adviser on suicide prevention Christine Morgan and VC winner Ben Roberts-Smith.
“We are hoping with the summit our government has a backbone and calls for a royal commission into the suicide of our veterans,” Ms Hewitt said. “It needs to stop. It’s been swept under the carpet for far too long.”
Ms Finney, whose son Dave died in February, has collected the signatures of more than 250,000 Australians calling for a royal commission into military suicides with more than 500 deaths since 2001.
She welcomed the state’s backing for the move and said a further formal commitment from the Commonwealth was needed.
“I’m really glad they’re going to support the RC and have acknowledged that more needs to be done. It’s awesome, now I hope the federal government are going to follow suit.”
Mr Roberts-Smith, Australia’s most decorated veteran, also applauded the state’s backing for a commission.
“I think it’s fantastic. It’s a long time coming, it is something that has needed support from the state governments to get the federal government to finally act on it. The issue needs to be dealt with. We need a royal commission to find out what is going on.”
Sydney mum Colleen Pillen, whose son Michael Powers, 29, took his life said last night: “It seems that once they have been discharged they are disregarded and forgotten about by ADF.”
The mothers were flown to Sydney by Virgin Australia and the AHA provided accommodation.
Lifeline 13 11 14