Attendance: 33 Members: 30 (of 48) 63% Guests: 3
Speaker: Pamela Young Topic: PTSD: Invisible wounds, real impact
At our Rotary Glenferrie Meeting on Tuesday 9th of June we were addressed by Pam Young on the topic of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Pam’s husband was in the Australian Army and a Member of the SAS. He spent 20 years in the Army joining at 18. They were married for 15 years and shared many happy times, along with some challenges that she came to understand more clearly in later years. Pam never imagined she would go through separation and divorce, which she now understands was influenced by her husband’s post-traumatic stress. Since becoming a Member of the East Malvern RSL and working amongst many people with PTSD Pam now recognizes how it dramatically related back to her own life.
Pam stated that she did not talk professionally but based her talk on her own experience and how this affected herself and the 5 children involved in her husband’s life.
Pam gave us some facts on PTSD, a critical health challenge within the Defence forces. In the (ADF), 12-month prevalence rates range from 6% to nearly 10% among serving personnel and can double after transitioning to civilian life. Symptoms include intrusive memories, hypervigilance, and emotional detachment.
In relation to Suicide between 1997 and 2023, a period of just 6 years 1,840 serving and ex-serving ADF members have died by suicide. Of these deaths, preliminary data suggests 73 occurred in 2023.
Pam’s husband went to Borneo and worked alongside the American Training Team and was Honored with a Commendation for Gallantry, for an ambush on a canoe that 6 of them were in on the Sepik River. He left the Army in about 1964 but then 3 years later rejoined purposely to go to Vietnam. Most tours of duty in Vietnam were 12 months but her husband Barry was there for 752 days and once again was awarded a Commendation for Gallantry. Putting these dates together Pam realized that he had been in one conflict in Borneo in about 1964 and then another one in 1967-1970 receiving Commendations from both. He never mentioned these awards for Gallantry
He would shout orders in the middle of the night. “Lay Low” “run for cover” and many more. He was hard to talk to and suffered temper tantrums over small things. Nightmares continued. He would be in a hot sweat and in the morning would deny it all. PTSD? Pam believes so and stated “Would he be diagnosed? Oh No! SAS soldiers are fine in their minds and are trained to look after themselves”.
He was 48 when he walked out of their marriage and 53 when his workers found him slumped over the wheel of the Land Rover dead. He had had a heart attack at 53 years of age. Still not asking for help when he needed it.
The RSL has many organisations in place for veterans. Soldier On, Qld Mate4mates, Dept of Vet Affairs, Legacy, Open, Arms, and a twelve month Free Health For Heart campaign.
Lots of help if they would only ask for it.