Australia is well-positioned to respond to the findings of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, say leaders at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
UniSC is home to the National PTSD Research Centre, a national hub led by mental health and neuroscience experts working to understand, educate, advocate and treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
UniSC Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Helen Bartlett, welcomed the Commission’s findings, and the contributions of people with lived experience.
“Clearly the Final Report recognises that the mental health of veterans and Defence personnel is of vital importance, and UniSC acknowledges the significant attention, commitment and investment that the Government is already making to address a problem that affects nearly half of Australians either directly or indirectly,” Professor Bartlett said.
She said the Final Report offered a catalyst for Government to prioritise investment in Australia’s promising mental health research into screening and preventative treatment.
“As we noted in our submission to the Royal Commission, additional research funding to help reliably predict who may develop a mental health disorder must become a high priority for Government,” Professor Bartlett said.
“Scientific developments in this space could be life-changing for veterans and Defence personnel experiencing PTSD in our country, and we know that Australia is leading promising new research that could allow us to become a global leader in solving the problem.
“We have some of the best mental health and neuroscience researchers in the world to achieve this. Our researchers – and others across Australia - are identifying neurobiological predictors and ways to prevent mental illness before conditions become severe, complex and more difficult to treat.”
Professor Alain Brunet, Director of UniSC’s Thompson Institute, said among the promising pathways were Reconsolidation Therapy, and targeted screening.
“Through Reconsolidation Therapy, veterans and active Defence personnel suffering PTSD could be treated much faster, with up to 70 percent of participants reporting positive benefits after two assessments and six treatment sessions,” Professor Brunet said.
“In comparison, traditional approaches take about six months, which tells us that there is a lot of room for improvement to the current treatment approach.
“As well as this, we should be seriously considering investment in targeted screening options for people in occupations with a high risk of exposure to trauma, such as Defence and emergency services. Early detection will allow us to predict the likelihood they will develop a disorder, allowing us to offer evidence-based treatments earlier."
UniSC’s National PTSD Research Centre opened in 2024 with funding from the Australian Government, donors and UniSC.
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