Jesse Bird warned Veterans' Affairs he could become suicide statistic days before his death
ABC News Australia
Michael Atkin
August 18, 2017
Combat veteran Jesse Bird pleaded with the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) to urgently help him, warning he was suicidal just days before his death, according to official records.
But the Department did not budge and in June, after losing his 18-month battle for compensation for war-related injuries, Jesse took his own life.
Disturbingly, money from Veterans' Affairs finally came through after his death and his parents have asked the department for an explanation.
His devastated family is campaigning for an urgent overhaul to how DVA handles compensation claims to prevent more veteran suicides.
His mother, Karen Bird, told 7.30 her son's file shows his concerns were not taken seriously.
"It triggers a really emotional response, to realise my boy was in so much pain," Ms Bird said.
"He obviously felt that he couldn't contact us for more money and he was really just pushed into the corner and he didn't see any other way out."
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