Here, in Australia, PTSD is still a word that hides in the darkness.
It is a word that many refuse to acknowledge and our heroes are taught that PTSD is a weakness, something that they should be immune to. The mistakes of the past continue to be repeated in a vicious and problematic cycle.
All this money is poured into training them, helping them deal with practical situations they might encounter, creating effective armed forces/emergency service personnel, yet when they return home after experiencing the situations they were trained for, is there equivalent funding provided for services to help them deal the emotional toll of their experiences??
There is a lingering culture within the services of not talking about feelings or emotions and “sucking it up”. So often, when faced with unfamiliar and uncomfortable reactions, these heroes shut down.
They are faced with feelings and thoughts they are unable to process, but feel unable to unburden themselves for fear of how they will be judged. Hence the growing numbers of personnel suffering from PTSD.
As a society, we need to change our attitudes and demand that our governments do more for those who give so much for us.
When your loved one returns home you have a certain expectation that they will still be more or less the same person they were when they left, but what do you do if the person you once knew never comes home?
There needs to be more, more support services, more programs, more understanding and awareness to help them deal with difficulties,to heal their minds and souls.
As partners, we do what we can but there is only so much we can do to help them cope, only so much support we can provide, this is not something we can do without assistance.
I would love to know why there isn’t more funding into the necessary programs.
Why is the Government leaving it up to fantastic voluntary/not for profit organisations, groups and individuals such as the RSL, the many ESOs, Wounded Warrior, Soldier–On and many others?
When will the government realize that it is their responsibility to take care of our loyal heroes. That investing in these support services and programs, providing education and awareness, reducing the stigma associated with PTSD, would create healthier and more stable working environments being a great benefit for all.