Veteran Jesse Bird, who took his own life, spent years asking for help, says mate

A FORMER soldier from Boronia says a fellow veteran who committed suicide did so only after spending seven years trying to get officials to recognise his post-traumatic stress disorder.

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A FORMER soldier from Boronia says a fellow veteran who committed suicide did so only after spending seven years trying to get officials to recognise his post-traumatic stress disorder.

Phil Hodgskiss said his mate and fellow veteran Jesse Bird, from St Kilda, was deployed to Afghanistan in 2009 and returned in 2010.

Mr Hodgskiss said since his return, Mr Bird tried to get the Department of Veterans Affairs to recognise his PTSD and other conditions, but it was a recent rejection letter for permanent impairment compensation that was the final straw.

A copy of the rejection letter was posted on a Facebook page of The Warrior’s Return — a group that provides services for returned servicemen and is run by veterans and their families.

The post said Mr Bird’s claim was rejected “because there is evidence the impairment you suffer from … post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, alcohol abuse, is not considered permanent and stable at this time”.

On June 27 — on National PTSD Awareness Day, and three weeks after getting the letter — the 32-year-old took his life.

Former soldier Phil Hodgskiss says his the system let down his mate, Jesse Bird.

Jesse Bird’s parents say he returned from Afghanistan a different person.

“I think he felt worthless; that his problem wasn’t recognised,” Mr Hodgskiss said.

“He knew and he felt that something wasn’t right. He was one of the very few people that did stand up and put his hand up and say ‘I need help’.

“(He) then went through everything, did everything properly, went to his appointments, he got the treatment he was supposed to and then they turned around and said no.”

Mr Bird’s parents made a submission to the Senate Inquiry into Suicide by Veterans and Ex-service Personnel last year, which also told of Jesse’s struggles.

“The confident young man who went away did not return the same person,” the submission said.

“Instead, Jesse returned affected by a cocktail of nightmares, anxiety, shame, remorse, damaged shoulders, self-medicating alcohol and a cigarette addiction.”

Mourners at Jesse Bird’s funeral. He took his own life on June 27. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Their submission said Mr Bird was trying to get help from the department for his PTSD, without success.

“It seemed to him and us that the level of bureaucracy is intentionally obstructionist and unedifying,” it said.

Mr Bird was farewelled in Williamstown on July 4, but Mr Hodgskiss said the department refused to help pay for the funeral.

He said “we passed the collection tin around our group”, and the Australian Peacekeepers and Peacemakers Veterans Association also gave a “large sum of money” to Mr Bird’s family.

An online fundraising page was also set up.

Mourners at Mr Bird’s funeral. He was a former soldier who went to Afghanistan in 2009. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Mr Hodgskiss was so gutted by his mate’s death, he called on the community, through the Yarra Valley Noticeboard Facebook page, to share Mr Bird’s story.

He also hand-delivered a letter to Deakin federal MP Michael Sukkar calling for an audit of the department’s spending and funding.

“I would like to see an accurate number and separation of where that actual money goes,” he said.

“It’s bigger than the budget of some small countries but if it’s not actually making it to services where people can go and get help ... it might as well be sugar and flour.”

In a statement, Mr Sukkar said: “I extend my deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of Jesse Bird.”

“The Government is committed to ensuring the mental health needs of our former ADF personnel are supported.

“A range of measures were announced in this year’s Budget relating to veterans’ mental health, and we will continue to work the awith the ADF and veterans groups to determine future needs”.

The department and Mr Bird’s mother have been contacted for comment.

If you need help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.