Stigma is one of the major barriers for serving Defence personnel and veterans accessing vital mental health and wellbeing services. This includes the stigma:
- of recognising you are not okay, and need profressional help in a Defence role. Hearing from people with lived experience highlights that veterans may not get the immediate treatment and support they need as they are treated as being weak. Sometimes, the person has to negotiate an often demeaning, traumatic and administrative approach in order to receive a diagnosis and access supports.
- of veterans and serving members who are often seen by mainstream psychological service providers as "too hard", "aggressive", damaged irreparably by their service experiences, or that this is a Veterans Affairs responsibility.
These overlapping stigmas lead to sliding doors that prevent serving members, veterans and families from accessing the help they need and results in compounding mental health impacts and high rates of suicide.
This webinar looks at insights gained from the Royal Commission into what assists in reducing stigma and increasing access and support.
Commissioner Dr Peggy Brown AO. Peggy Brown is a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP), a member of the RANZCP Section on Leadership and Management, a member of the RANZCP Military, Veterans’ and Emergency Services personnel Mental Health Network (MVESPMHN) and also of the RANZCP ADHD Network. She is currently a Member of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. She was previously contracted by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to conduct two reviews:
- Review of Trauma Recovery Program, and
- Review of the Wellbeing and Support Program.
She was a member of the Department of Veteran Affairs Chief Health Officer’s Mental Health Expert Advisory Group from February to July 2021, and was engaged by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care to provide strategic support and advice; and to chair the Expert Advisory Group for the Independent Qualitative Review of Past Defence and Veteran Suicides being conducted by the ACSQHC on behalf of the Interim National Commissioner on Defence and Veteran Suicides. She was the CEO at the National Mental Health Commission when it conducted the Review of Suicide and Self-Harm Services for Current and Former Members of the Australian Defence Force and their Families in 2016–17.
Peggy Brown is one of three Royal Commissioners appointed to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, which was formed to listen, investigate and recommend actions and changes to address systemic issues contributing to suicide and suicidal behaviours by serving and ex-serving Defence members.
Melbourne NSW 3000
Australia
Members | $ 0.00 |
Non-Members | $ 60.00 |