For many veterans and first responders, the job brings a clear sense of purpose and a team who has your back. Then the uniform comes off, through retirement, injury, medical discharge or a change of career, and a lot of that structure goes with it. That’s often when post-traumatic stress shows up, sometimes years after the events behind it.
October is Mental Health Month, and the global theme for World Mental Health Day on 10 October is lived experiences heard. The voices of people who have served deserve to be part of that conversation. FearLess has close ties to this community. Our co-founder Admiral Chris Barrie AC, is a former Chief of the Defence Force.
Why post-traumatic stress is common in service roles
Defence personnel, police, paramedics, firefighters and emergency workers are exposed to traumatic events as part of their work, often again and again. Beyond Blue’s Answering the Call survey heard from 21,000 police and emergency services workers across Australia. It found that the risk of post-traumatic stress symptoms rose the longer people had served.
Exposure adds up. One hard job may be manageable. Years of them can build into something that is hard to put down. Our earlier article When helping hurts looks at the toll this work takes on first responders.
The move out of service
Leaving can mean losing several things at once. The routine goes, and so does the daily contact with people you trusted with your life. For veterans, the shift from defence culture to civilian life can feel like moving to another country. For police and emergency workers, retirement or a medical discharge can take away part of who you are along with the job.
While working, many people stay busy enough to keep symptoms at bay. Once the pace slows, memories and feelings that were pushed aside can come to the surface. Sleep can get worse, irritability can creep in, and relationships at home can feel the strain. Our articles on why PTSD disrupts sleep and PTSD and relationships cover these in more detail.
Phoenix Australia has guidance on supporting veteran mental health, and its Responder Assist hub has information for emergency workers and their families.
The culture of staying silent
Service cultures value toughness, getting the job done and looking after your mates. Those strengths save lives on the job. They can also make it very hard to admit you are struggling. Many people worry that speaking up will affect their career or how their team sees them. Some compare themselves with colleagues who “had it worse” and decide they don’t deserve help.
Men in particular can find it hard to name what’s going on, something we explored in men’s mental health in Australia. Post-traumatic stress doesn’t always look like sadness. It can show up as anger, drinking, working all hours or pulling away from family, so it’s easy to miss.
At FearLess, we see post-traumatic stress as something acquired from a lived experience. It is a response to what someone has been through, and that matters for people who have spent their careers being the strong one. Asking for help is part of looking after yourself, the same as getting an injury treated.
Signs worth paying attention to
Common signs include nightmares or flashbacks, feeling on high alert in everyday places like shopping centres, and going out of your way to avoid reminders of what happened. Some people feel numb or cut off from the people they love. Others notice anger that seems out of proportion, or find they need a drink to get to sleep. If signs like these have lasted a month or longer and are getting in the way of daily life, it’s worth talking to someone. Our post-traumatic stress FAQs answer some of the most common questions.
Families feel it too
Partners and children of veterans and first responders often carry a lot quietly. Shift work, deployments and a parent who comes home on edge all leave a mark. Families are entitled to support in their own right. Open Arms provides free counselling for veterans and their families, and Fortem Australia supports first responders and their families with social connection activities and clinical services.
If you’re supporting someone, our guide on how to support someone with post-traumatic stress has practical ideas for partners, friends and family.
Where to get help
Veterans, serving members and their families can call Open Arms Veterans & Families Counselling on 1800 011 046 for free and confidential support at any hour. Safe Zone Support on 1800 142 072 offers anonymous counselling with counsellors who understand military culture.
First responders and their families can reach out to Fortem Australia. For anyone, a GP is a good place to start, and our overview of PTSD treatment options in Australia explains what’s available. Our getting help page lists more services.
If you need to talk to someone now, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. In New Zealand, call or text 1737. If someone is in immediate danger, call 000 (or 111 in New Zealand).
Common questions
Why do veterans and first responders develop post-traumatic stress?
Their work exposes them to traumatic events, often again and again across a career. That exposure can build up over time. Leaving the job can also remove the routine and team that kept symptoms in check, so post-traumatic stress sometimes appears years after the events that caused it.
Where can veterans get help for post-traumatic stress in Australia?
Open Arms Veterans & Families Counselling offers free and confidential support around the clock on 1800 011 046. Safe Zone Support provides anonymous counselling on 1800 142 072.
Where can first responders and their families get support?
Fortem Australia supports first responders and their families with social connection activities, clinical services and mental health resources. Phoenix Australia’s Responder Assist has information for emergency workers and their families, and a GP can help with a referral to a psychologist.
FearLess and the people who serve
FearLess is a charity supporting people living with post-traumatic stress and their families across Australia and New Zealand. Veterans and first responders spend their working lives looking after others, and they deserve the same care when the job is done.
You can support our work, become a FearLess partner or read more on the FearLess blog.
This article is for general awareness only. FearLess is not a medical organisation, and this content is not a substitute for professional advice. Please seek support from an appropriately qualified professional for your own circumstances. If you are in danger, call 000.
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