News.com Australia
Ian McPhedran National defence writer
News Corp Australia Network
6 HOURS AGO MARCH 15, 2015
Not impressed. Former soldier Aaron Gray from Bomaderry
NSW is angry about the way Defence handles mental health.
THE defence force has no idea how many serving or former members have committed suicide, but a former soldier has recorded 128 cases since 1986 including an alarming 75 since 2006.
Former armoured vehicle gunner with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment Aaron Gray, who is on a disability pension due to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and leg injuries, believes the real number could be more than 200.
The Army has the highest rate with 107, followed by Navy with 11 and RAAF with five.
33-year-old Mr Gray from Bomaderry in NSW is the convener of the Australian Veterans Suicide Register on Facebook that includes the names and other details of the victims.
The father of three is so angry about the treatment of mentally ill troops and the attitude of the top brass that he began an online petition last week demanding the dismissal of the head of defence health Rear Admiral Robyn Walker.
Admiral Walker, who has never deployed overseas on operations, tried to deflect blame for the disorder away from defence by telling a magazine and ABC TV’s Four Corners that PTSD had other triggers besides military service.
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