Defence acknowledges the importance of promoting and assisting the mental health and wellbeing of its people at all times. The Department, by necessity, is at times required to put its people in situations which demand levels of cognitive, emotional and physical intensity beyond most other professions. As part of Defence’s enduring commitment to strengthen its approach to individual and organisational mental health and wellbeing, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Branch was established in July 2023.
The Branch’s role is to deliver and measure the effectiveness of a Defence-wide approach to mental health and wellbeing and lead cultural change in considering wellbeing at all operational levels. The Branch works alongside Work Health and Safety, Culture and the Groups and Services to embed mental health and wellbeing considerations into broader Defence policy, training and processes.
Some key Branch initiatives and programs include:
Defence and Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2024-2029
Defence is working jointly with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to develop the Defence and Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2024-2029 (the Strategy). The Strategy will encourage positive mental health and wellbeing across the Defence and veteran community. It will aim to improve prevention, early intervention and support initiatives while promoting a culture of wellbeing. The Strategy will adopt a social determinants approach from the day someone joins Defence. For uniformed members this continues beyond their final transition to civilian life. Defence and DVA will aim to support their people to serve well, live well and age well.
Defence Suicide Prevention Program
Defence has a comprehensive and evidence-based suicide prevention program that includes:
- Promotion, education and training elements that aim to reduce stigma, improve awareness of mental health and suicide prevention and encourage early intervention and help seeking
- Training for all Defence medical officers and supporting mental health professionals
- The Defence Lived Experience Framework – a systematic, evidence-based framework that will be principles-based and adaptable to other Defence contexts beyond mental health and suicide.
Defence SafeSide Project
As part of the commitment to continuous improvement, Defence has partnered with SafeSide Prevention, a global workforce education and leadership consultancy, specialising in suicide prevention, to optimise the Suicide Prevention Program. The Project informs culture, policies and education, promoting the shift from risk prediction and stratification to risk assessment and formulation focusing on person-centred prevention and safety planning.
Defence acknowledges suicide prevention is broader than health and that we all have a role to play. Defence are aligning with the national direction through Enterprise-wide evidence-based training. Our vision is to create a strengths-based culture; where feeling safe, supported, and seeking help is encouraged and valued.
Strategic Advisory Group
The Strategic Advisory Group is a team of subject matter experts across the domains of psychology, human factors, spiritual wellbeing, transition, culture and suicidology. Employing a whole of systems approach to suicide prevention and support, the group advises Defence on best-practice protective wellbeing factors while aiming to reduce risk and distress through improvements in support systems. This is achieved through the review and implementation of outcomes from current health and wellbeing literature, practice and trends to inform policy and practices. The Group is also charged with maintaining broad and relevant stakeholder relationships across Government departments, community and academia, and providing credible, evidence-based wellbeing initiatives and advice.
