Military Veterans with PTSD Face an Agonising Choice: The Stigma of Declaring it to Employers or Being Denied Support

A Significant Number of Military Veterans Suffer from Long-Term Health Problems

Australia is home to almost half a million military veterans, with most of them being part of the workforce. However, around 60% of these veterans live with long-term health problems, including mental health challenges such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and an increased risk of suicide.

The Consequences of Keeping Quiet

Many veterans who suffer from these conditions keep quiet about their struggles, often due to fear of stigma. This silence can have severe consequences, including self-harm or mental health crises in the workplace. Employers may be unaware of their conditions and unable to offer the necessary support.

A Study on the Circumstances of Disclosure

Our team at the University of Queensland has conducted a study to understand the circumstances in which veterans disclose their medical conditions. The project is funded by the university and an apprentice placement group, East Coast Apprenticeships. Although it is too early to share the results, our surveys and interviews point to a spectrum of approaches to disclosure.

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The Spectrum of Disclosure

At one end of the spectrum, veterans tell us they won’t reveal their medical concerns to anyone, including their spouses. This can be due to feelings of isolation and the fear that no one is capable of understanding or relating to their situations. On the other end of the spectrum, veterans face official demands for repeated disclosure, sometimes every six months. They feel as if their private lives are constantly on display to their supervisors and an unknown number of human resource managers.

A Complicated Juggle

Many veterans face a complex decision-making process each time a contract is up for renewal or a new contract is offered. They must take into account the length of the contract, the contracting firm’s health policies and reporting requirements, and what the firm says it offers for mental health support. Some veterans even research what the contracting firm actually does by asking around among fellow veterans.

The Importance of Trust

Many employers have their employees’ best interests at heart but are unable to convincingly make that known. One business owner, a veteran himself, said the best way to gain veterans’ trust is to first disclose some aspect of his own health condition. It was a way of meeting the applicant halfway.

A Study with the Potential to Save Lives

Our study has some way to run, but there’s a chance its findings could save lives by making it easier for veterans to disclose their conditions and gain support.

Conclusion

Military veterans with PTSD face an agonising choice: the stigma of declaring their condition to employers or being denied support. This study aims to understand the circumstances in which veterans disclose their medical conditions and to identify ways to make it easier for them to gain support.

FAQs

Q: What is the prevalence of long-term health problems among military veterans?
A: Around 60% of military veterans live with long-term health problems, including mental health challenges such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, and an increased risk of suicide.

Q: Why do many veterans keep quiet about their struggles?
A: Many veterans keep quiet due to fear of stigma, feelings of isolation, and the fear that no one is capable of understanding or relating to their situations.

Q: What are the consequences of keeping quiet?
A: Keeping quiet can lead to self-harm or mental health crises in the workplace, as employers may be unaware of the veteran’s condition and unable to offer the necessary support.

Q: What is the purpose of the study?
A: The study aims to understand the circumstances in which veterans disclose their medical conditions and to identify ways to make it easier for them to gain support.

Q: Who is funding the study?
A: The study is funded by the University of Queensland and an apprentice placement group, East Coast Apprenticeships.