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eNews special edition
Welcome to this special edition of Life in Mind eNews, which highlights a range of suicide prevention initiatives and research from around Australia focused on the needs of serving and former serving members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
If you would like to share suicide prevention news, current initiatives or published research, please email lifeinmind@health.nsw.gov.au
Sector news
Open Arms supports Australian Defence Force veterans through transition
Transitioning from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to civilian life can be challenging and impact on mental health and wellbeing. In this Q&A, Bucky Toller, Assistant Director, Strategic Communications, Communications Branch, Stakeholder Engagement and Communications Division at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs shares some of the challenges faced by ADF veterans and how Open Arms supports transition.
Toolkit for Primary Health Networks supporting veteransA free toolkit is available for Primary Health Networks (PHNs) to support Australian Defence Force (ADF) veterans living in their health network region. The toolkit guides PHNs in establishing the needs of veterans residing in their area and practical actions they can take to support the prevention of suicide for ADF veterans. |
Free training to support veteran mental healthVeterans and their families can access free mental health literacy and suicide prevention training through the Mental Health Protect program, launched by Mental Health First Aid International. Anyone in the sector that works directly with veteran communities is eligible to participate in free Mental Health First Aid and LivingWorks training. |
Moral injury and suicideUnderstanding the factors influencing suicide in serving and ex-serving defence personnel can help develop targeted approaches in suicide prevention. In this Q&A, Dr Nikki Jamieson shares insights on how moral injury contributes to the complexity of suicide for serving and ex-serving defence personnel. |
Villy app increases protective factorsA pilot program testing the effectiveness of Villy, a new app that supports the mental health of current and ex-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) members and their families, is underway in Darwin with national expansion planned in the near future. |
Related Life in Mind resources
Research news
A suicide research framework for the Australian Defence Force
In partnership with the Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention (AISRAP), the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention at Griffith University, and La Trobe University, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has commenced research to determine risk and protective factors for suicidal behaviours in a military setting.
Translated research studies
A translation of suicide prevention research on the Life in Mind portal
The link between moral injury and suicideResearchers conducted a review of the literature to examine the experience of moral injury in a military context and its link to suicidal thoughts and behaviours. |
Suicidal thoughts and behaviours in veteransResearchers reviewed literature in ADF suicide to inform priorities for further research and to support targeted interventions for current and ex-serving defence personnel. |
