In their boots: Supporting Wagga's troops for Veteran's Health Week

It is the simple message one ex-military man wants Wagga residents to grasp. 

Former Air Force Warrant Officer (first class) Richard Salcole said it was hard for the general public to understand the challenges serving and non-serving veterans sometimes faced; the stress, anxiety, depression and PTSD that no one else could see.

To combat this, the RSL Sub-Branch vice-president is calling for greater awareness and tolerance as part of Veteran’s Health Week. 

It follows sobering statistics that last year revealed former members of the Australian Defence Force were battling rates of suicide higher than the general population. 

The study – conducted by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare – found more than 300 ex-defence force members had taken their own lives between 2001 and 2015.

But Mr Salcole said the results were conservative and believed numbers to be much higher than what was recorded. 

He said the stigma around mental health was gradually being addressed, but there was still a ways to go.

In light of this, The Daily Advertiser will this week share the stories of former serving members and their families to help highlight what life is like in their boots. 

Mr Salcole said serving men and women could find it hard to transition from being told what to eat, what to wear and who to see for medical treatment, to an unfamiliar civilian world. 

“I can see how they become isolated and withdrawn and feel there’s no way out,” Mr Salcole said. “Unless you’ve been there, you don’t understand.

For veterans who fought in overseas conflicts, he said coming home was an even harder battle.

“It’s that separation from normality ... when you’re living and working with likeminded people 24-seven, it’s a different environment,” he said. 

“It changes the perception on your whole life.” 

Mr Salcole said it took four-years to “really come home”, following his Timor tour and some days, he still struggled. 

“Civilians ask me: ‘What’s wrong with you?’,” he said. “But it is like a lot of other hidden illnesses; mental health is inside the person. They don’t get that concept.”

For crisis support call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyondblue on 1300 224 636.