Australia’s largest post-traumatic stress awareness convoy stopped at Wagga’s Bolton Park yesterday to shine a light on a stigmatic condition.
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Travelling through four states in October, a procession of military, firefighting, ambulance and support vehicles encouraged people to talk about their feelings and to seek professional help.
John Gilmour, from the Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation, said the stigma on mental health is “slowly rolling back” and people are now more willing to talk about their feelings.
“Post traumatic stress disorder is a normal reaction to an abnormal situation and it develops a range of encounters to an adverse event,” Mr Gilmour said.
“It’s often punctuated with nightmares, intrusive thoughts about the trauma, withdrawals from a person’s anxiety, depression, substance use and it’s actually one of the most difficult disorders to diagnose.”
The research assistant said these events are “crucial” to guide those to the right support services and to start a conversation.