ADF suicides

Dear friends, late last year I accepted the invitation to meet with ACM Binskin, Chief of The Australian Defence Force and the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Ms Gai Brodtmann (MP). In separate meetings with their senior staff we discussed openly the concerns that we hold for additional family information access and involvement. I sincerely thank them for both their openness and sincere empathy for this aim to save ADF member lives and protect Australian families from the crushing horrors of family member suicides. The Defence Chief has commissioned a review into the ‘management of suicide and mental health in the ADF” – this a non health review and is now being drafted. After all these discussions I have no illusions that we cannot yet rest, as this is just another step forward in a complex bureaucratic struggle with morality versus obscure legislation. On a brighter side, I do accept that the Commander of our armed services has parallel thoughts to our own, but has the restraint of interpretation of both The Privacy and Mental Health ACTs. To date the ADF position is to be maintained, sadly, 2015 saw 9 serving ADF members take their own lives along with many ex serving members. But disappointingly, there's still little willingness to specifically change the policy and laws restricting families being notified of self-harm. However, if there is a way to reinterpret or avoid conflict with these legislative Acts – I firmly believe that, with the assistance of these very knowledgeable senior Australians, we will find it and our task will be completed. The solution may have to be in an additional clause to these Acts, but I trust that the ambiguities of these legislations may also be a solution as “the spirit” of all Australian Law has never meant to harm its citizens or increase the danger to their wellbeing. There is very little risk of downside in this change and the instigation that we target is very much on the conservative side of having reduced the danger to our ADF members in our families. Together with ACM Binskin and the Hon Gai Brodtmann we hope to move towards a safer ADF – a safer environment for all of our family members. I will continue the updates as I receive them from our trusted new friends. Your appreciative friend, Mark Addison and family.