Historical and Contemporary Dimensions of Veteran Suicide: 1914-2023

Research overview

We want to understand the circumstances leading to veteran experiences of suicidal ideation, attempt and those who have taken their lives. We are approaching this over time from 1914 until the present day. We are taking a life course approach.

This means we are asking:

Veterans about your life from birth, through early childhood, to enlistment, service, transition, and life after service.
Families about your loved one’s life from birth, through early childhood, to enlistment, service, transition and life after service
Ex-service organisations about how have traditionally and currently serve their members, veterans, and their families.

This includes researching how service affects veterans and their families; along with the ways the Australian Defence Force (ADF), the Department of Defence (DoD), and Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) supports serving members, veterans, and their families (or not).

Who's funding this Study?

This study is funded by an Australian Research Council Discovery Grant. The Australian Research Council is an independent body with a central role in supporting the Australian research sector to produce high-quality and impactful research.

The project has been approved by Flinders University’s Human Research Ethics Committee. Approval Number: 5999

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Meet the team

Professor Ben Wadham, College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University

Ben is a veteran and Director of Open Door. He has is a member of the Australian Peacekeeping and Peacekeeper Veterans Association (APPVA), the RAR Association, the Military Police Association of Australia, and the Vice-President of the Defence Force Welfare Association (SA). He advised on the Minister for Veteran Affairs National Roundtable for the Joint Defence and Veteran Mental Health (August 2023) and Wellbeing Strategy and the National Veteran Entitlement Legislation Reform Advisory Group (2023).

Professor Sharon Lawn, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University

Sharon has undertaken a broad range of mental health research at Flinders University including in smoking cessation, chronic condition self-management, healthcare workforce, health services research, veteran transition and suicide research, coercive practices, mental health peer workforce, and consumer and family experiences within systems of healthcare. Her research uses a broad range of qualitative and mixed methods, and focuses on examining the culture of service provision, systems of care, implementation, and service users' experiences of care. Sharon is a former lead Mental Health Commissioner for South Australia. Sharon is highly active in mental health lived experience advocacy in Australia and is Chair and Executive Director of Lived Experience Australia, a leading national lived experience advocacy peak organisation.

Dr Margaret Hutchison, School of Humanities & Social Sciences, University of New South Wales

Dr Karen Bird, College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University

Professor Udoy Saikia, School of Humanities & Social Sciences, Flinders University

Mr Barry Riddiford, College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University

Mr Andrew Prevett, College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University

Project contacts

Co-Investigator  

Professor Ben Wadham
College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University
Email: ben.wadham@flinders.edu.au

Co-Investigator  

Professor Sharon Lawn 
College of Medicine and Public Health,  Flinders University
Email: Sharon.lawn@flinders.edu.au

Co-Investigator

Dr Karen Bird
College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University
Email: karen.bird@flinders.edu.au
Mobile: 0419 526 743

Community Liaison Officer

Mr Barry Riddiford
College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University
Email: barry.riddiford@flinders.edu.au
Mobile: 0467 894 181

Participation consent forms

If you would like to be involved in this researcher, please read and complete the relevant Participant Information and Consent form below and return to ben.Wadham@flinders.edu.au.

Veteran Participant Information & Consent Form

Families Participant Information & Consent Form

Organisations Participant Information & Consent Form

Frequently asked questions

Why participate?

This research will link historical and contemporary experiences of veterans and their families. It will provide veterans and their families with an opportunity to have their experiences documented. Linking historical and contemporary veterans and their families experiences will help inform an evidence-base of how service and transition, and systems and cultures can influence veteran wellbeing and trauma.

This research will also inform future redress initiatives and responses to veteran health and wellbeing.

Study Benefits:

Generate new knowledge on the changing ways the ADF, DVA, the Veteran sector, families and community have understood Veterans, and Veteran wellbeing, trauma and suicide since 1914.
Describe how government and military policy have historically affected Veteran wellbeing and suicide outcomes.
Record and contextualise Veteran and family accounts of Veteran suicide including thoughts, planning and attempts to understand underlying risk factors for suicide.
Provide a historical record of Veteran and family accounts of suicide including thoughts, planning and attempts to identify risk factors that generate the conditions for suicide.
Describe the social domains where Australian Veterans are achieving or not achieving wellbeing and translate research to policy and service provision addressing Veteran wellbeing and suicide prevention.

What does participation involve?

Participation is voluntary. If you agree to participate, this will include:

A one-on-one interview (other family member(s) or friends may be with you for the interview, if you want them to be present).
With your consent, the interview will be audio and/or video-taped. Video recordings will focus solely on you and you immediate surroundings only. If you do not want to be videoed, that is okay – you can still participate in the project.
You will be asked a series of questions about your experiences of veteran welfare and veteran sector support.
The interview will take between 1-3 hours. You do not have to answer any questions you do not want to. We can stop at any time.

Your DVA entitlements cannot be affected by participating in this study.

Video Accounts

With your consent, the interview will be audio and/or video-taped. Video recordings will focus solely on you and you immediate surroundings only. If you do not want to be videoed, that is okay – you can still participate in the project.

The purpose of the videos is to produce testimonials of bereaved families and veterans who have attempted to take their lives. The aim of this is to educate the wider community as well as provide support and understanding to other veterans who are facing life challenges. There are a group of families who have expressed the desire to have video testimonials of their stories. Some families and veterans who have attempted suicide feel that the issue is invisible and unrecognised. This will only be possible with participants who are happy to be identified. Videos will be recorded when the research interview is happening. Usual withdrawal protocols will be observed and will be produced with your explicit consent and feedback to establish a platform for describing the experience of suicide for families and veterans.

Are there any potential risks?

Some questions may cause discomfort. The discussion may also become emotionally challenging. The research team are very experienced in these interviews. We will ask you about how the interview is going as we proceed to check that you are feeling OK. If you experience feelings of distress please let the research team know immediately.

You can also contact the following services for support:

Lifeline – 13 11 14, www.lifeline.org.au
Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636, www.beyondblue.org.au
Open Arms: Veteran Counselling Service 1800 011 046, https://www.openarms.gov.au/
Find a NACCHO Member near you: www.naccho.org.au

Please note:

Participation is voluntary.
You can stop participating in this research at any time, without providing an explanation.
You do not have to answer any questions you don't want to.
If you do withdraw, any information collected up to that point will be securely destroyed.

What about my confidentiality and privacy?

Privacy and confidentiality are assured. Research findings may be presented at conferences, written up for publication or used for other research purposes as described in this Information Sheet. At no time will you be named, or your individual information be identifiable without your explicit consent.

How will my information be stored?

Information collected will be securely stored on a password protected computer and/or Flinders University server. Any identifiable information will be de-identified unless indicated otherwise.

After we complete the project, all information will be securely kept for ten years; when all raw data will be securely destroyed according to university protocols.

What feedback will I recieve?

On project completion, a short summary of the outcomes will be provided to all participants.

If you have agreed to be videoed, the video will be shown to you in production for your feedback.

I do not have any concerns about this project. But if I do, who do I contact?

Any member of the research team will be happy to assist. Your queries and concerns will be addressed in the strictest confidence.

If you have any complaints or reservations about the ethical conduct of this study, Flinders University’s Research Ethics & Compliance Office can be contacted via telephone: 08 8201 2543; or email human.researchethics@flinders.edu.au.