Knowledge exhibits 73 serving and former Australian Defence Force members died by suicide in 2023

Elena Rowland vividly remembers the day she discovered her good friend and former colleague, Shannen Box, had died by suicide.

“I felt sick. I couldn’t believe it, it didn’t feel real,” she stated.

Her 29-year-old good friend — who had simply purchased a home and completed her apprenticeship, and was deeply cherished — was gone.

“Nobody knew that she was fighting this internal war, which made it so shocking to everybody when she did die and caused a huge crack in the veteran community and to the people that knew her,” Ms Rowland stated.

The pair had met by way of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) in 2013, after they have been posted to a unit on the Enoggera Barracks in Brisbane.

Ms Rowland remembers her as somebody who was naturally good at every little thing. It was why she was admired by bosses, however her pals cherished her for a unique purpose.

“One of the things that made her really special wasn’t what she did or how good she was at everything; it was more like her heart. She had a good heart,” she stated.

Shannen discharged from the ADF about 5 years in the past; Ms Rowland believes she struggled with the transition.

“When you join the army, you get this compass, and it’s like your internal guide. It’s got your role, your tribe and your mission — so your job, your mates and your purpose,” Ms Rowland stated.

“When you get out of the army, not only have you got trauma, you’ve got pain, you’ve lost your mission, you’ve lost your purpose in life, you’ve lost your tribe of mates.

“Those issues have been taken away from Shan and I do not suppose she knew how you can navigate it correctly.”

At the time of her death, Shannen also had an outstanding claim to have her service-related injuries recognised by the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA); a process that many reported to the royal commission as lengthy, unfair and difficult to navigate.

Difficulty transitioning to civilian life was additionally a difficulty steadily raised throughout the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.

Tuesday marks one year since its final report was handed down, but whether its findings and recommendations are helping curb the disproportionate rate of suicides amongst veterans and serving members is yet to be seen.

It takes two years for the data to be finalised.

But figures launched right this moment by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) revealed there was a slight lower within the newest reporting interval.

Decline in deaths by suicide a ‘good signal’

Between 1997 and 2023, 1,840 serving and ex-serving ADF members died by suicide.

In the most recent reporting year, preliminary data suggests 73 occurred in 2023.

AIHW’s head of the defence and veterans’ insights unit Paul Pham said veterans faced higher rates of suicide than the Australian population.

“In phrases of traits, what we’re observing is that the suicide charges for ex-serving men and women have seen a normal modest decline lately from concerning the mid-2010,” he stated.

Mr Pham stated the decline was a “good signal” but said it was “tough to say if an rising pattern is conclusive”.

AIHW has additionally launched new set of study, commissioned by DVA, that examined the well being service used within the 12 months earlier than an ex-serving ADF member had died by suicide.

The reports focused on ex-serving ADF members who accessed a range of health services between July 2010 and June 2020.

It found 86 per cent of those ex-serving members who died by suicide had used health services in the year before their death — one-third of those had a mental health service as the last type of care used.

Veteran Brodie Moore, who was deployed to Afghanistan when he was 18 years old, said one death to suicide is one too many.

“We as a nation owe it to those folks which are placing their hand as much as serve the nation,” Mr Moore stated.

He said he saw soldiers he served with face struggles and some “tragically died by suicide”.

It inspired him to start his own health services, Medilinks, for ex-service members.

Mr Moore stated it was necessary that DVA inspired psychological well being suppliers to work with veterans so there could possibly be extra navy cultural competence within the psychological well being house.

A DVA spokesperson said the findings from the research would help inform future policy and programs.

“The authorities is dedicated to addressing the continuing impression of service, together with stopping future deaths by suicide and offering alternatives for therapeutic,” the spokesperson stated.

“Every suicide is a tragedy, and the lack of a present or former Australian Defence Force member is deeply felt by the whole Defence and veteran group.”

Last week, Veterans’ Affairs Minister Matt Keogh provided a progress update on the royal commission in federal parliament.

He additionally launched the Defence and Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025-2030, which goals to help the defence and veteran group throughout service or employment, throughout transition to civilian life and past.

RSL Queensland deputy chief executive of veteran services Troy Watson said it was “encouraging” to see a priority placed on defence and veteran health and wellbeing in the federal government’s update.

He said the milestone also marked a difficult time for veterans and their families as they “ponder the change that also must happen”.

Mr Watson stated it was necessary those that are struggling attain out for assist.

Call for nationwide day of recognition

In dealing with the grief of losing her friend, Ms Rowland realised those impacted by suicide were falling through the cracks when it came to support.

She established The Flannel Project, a registered charity, in Shannen’s honour. She named the charity after Shannen’s canine Flannel, and the flannel flower; the nationwide image for psychological well being consciousness.

The Flannel Project aims to support those impacted by veteran suicide

Ms Rowland is calling for the establishment of a national day — the Flannel Flower Day — to officially remember and commemorate veterans and service members who have died by suicide.

“We need to give survivors of suicide someplace to place their grief, to honour those that have died from the warfare inside,” Ms Rowland said.

She wants to hold the day on June 21, the winter solstice.

“We love symbols within the military in order that represents going from darkness into mild,” she stated.