A Thomastown company is on a mission to help address the emotional battles soldiers are facing away from the frontline.
Uniform manufacturer Australian Defence Apparel (ADA) will add tags with the contact details for not-for-profit organisation Soldier On to more than 500,000 defence force uniforms in an effort to improve accessibility to mental health services.
The partnership between ADA and Soldier On follows a 2015 Senate inquiry into the mental health of defence force personnel, which found that soldiers had been sidelined – or even lost their jobs – after flagging mental health problems.
ADA chief executive Matt Graham said it was hoped the partnership with Soldier On would help reduce the stigma of mental illness in the army.
“ADF personnel will now learn about the free, tailored mental health services available to them, right from the first time they pull on their army gear,” he said.
“These tags are one way the ADF is saying it’s OK for soldiers to ask for help.
“It also shows the ADF is responding to the prevalence of mental illnesses among its personnel, and that there are services nationwide, provided by Solider On, to help those suffering.”
Soldier On chief executive John Bale said tags would help spread the word about the organisation’s programs, which include art classes, coffee catch-ups and social events for acting service people and veterans.
“These types of activities have been proven to improve the rehabilitation of those affected by their service and are the first step toward improving the support offered to our veterans and their families,” he said.
