This article discusses suicide.

It was 10 years ago that then Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Morrison AO gave his famous speechin support of service women, (written mostly byCatherine McGregor AM).

Around this time, there were five concurrent inquiries into Defence culture, including the prominentBroderick Reporton the treatment of women. All of this led to a flurry of reforms, extraordinary new rhetoric, glossy brochures, and highly paid consultants. But did this cultural reform work?

There has been little formal independent analysis. However, there are indications that aspects of this reform program did not work, for people of any gender. The Royal Commission into defence and veteran suicides interim report (see section 3.6) identifies that ADF culture, abuse, and response to reporting of abuse, are still part of the story of veteran suicide. This surprised many who assumed the main cause was traumatic events experienced in war or war-like operations.

The report also presents the first statistical analysis of Australian female veteran suicide.

During the period 2002 to 2017, therateof suicide for female veterans was found to be 115 per cent higher than that of the normal Australian female population (as compared to 18 per cent for male veterans). It can be assumed that causality has some similarities to males and the general experience of military service. Yet the wide divergence from male statistics suggests something else may be going on.

2012researchby Samantha Crompvoets found there was a lack of support for female veterans in areas such as reproductive and gynaecological health; sexual trauma; maternal separation; domestic violence, and LGBTI+ related issues. Like younger male veterans, the women felt they were not seen as nor treated as real veterans. The report recommended developing targeted support for female veterans, setting a strategic research agenda, and providing training for civilian veteran health providers. One sign that such recommendations were heeded is that the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) has runFemale Veterans and Veterans Families Forumssince 2016. However, to what extent all recommendations were implemented is unknown.

It is premature to draw conclusions about high female veteran suicide figures or to suggest remedies. That is job of the Royal Commission. Also, as I have argued before, media focus on service women as victims obscures the wider story of service womens extraordinary and historic professional achievements, and it distorts the truth: many service women love their work and gain great fulfilment from it.

However, in this case, the statistics need scrutiny. To contribute to problem diagnosis, I would like to propose that sexual harassment and discrimination, which affects service people of all sorts, but more so women, is part of the female veteran suicide problem.

Wider issues

The context to this claim is parallel problems with womens safety and security in Australian society (as indicated by the 2021 womens#March4Justice), but also in other western militaries and police forces. TheUSDepartment of Defense (DOD)foundthat in 2021, the rates of sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and workplace hostility increased for women throughout the active force. Unfortunately serving as an echo to an earlier film,The Invisible War, (2012), in 2022I Am Vanessa Guillenwas released. Prompted by Vanessa Guillens murder at Fort Hood military base, the film exposes the continuing extent of sexual violence and ineffective justice systems in the US military.

In the UK, the suicide of Army officer cadetOlivia Perksmost likely related to gross sexual misconduct against her, while a 2021 UK parliamentaryreport found serious problems with the militarys handling of sexual assault and harassment, often compounding the trauma for victims. Concerns about the UK military justice system and culture were again highlighted by the 2022 caseof submariner crews rape list.

In Canada, since 2021, 13 senior military officers have been investigatedover sexual misconduct or related issues, while leadership scholarJason Walkerproposes that a decade of reforms and programs have had seen little success. In 2022, Canada gave up on military capacity to fairly investigate and prosecute military sexual offences and shifted responsibility tocivil authorities.

Similar issues appear in the police force. Areport on Queensland police culture finds widespread misogynistic behaviour, sexist comments, and sexual harassment. Vancouver police constableNicole Chansuicided a few months after reporting sexual abuse by her supervisor. A common thread in the high profile stories of police officersRhona Malonefrom Scotland andAngie Riversfrom the UK is retaliation and victimisation on reporting problems.

Backlash

Globally, a widespread phenomenon is that of increasing cultural polarisation, and a backlash against so-called woke politics or diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. In the security sector, concerns that wokeness endangers recruiting and military readiness are seen through the recent USRestoring Military Focus Act, (2022) which eliminates the position of Chief Diversity Officer within the Department of Defense (DOD).

While debating the merits and flaws of DEI initiatives or the anti-woke movement is beyond this article, what cannot be denied is that the vitriol of this cultural battle can overflow onto genuine victims with disastrous consequences.

There are three other factors which may contribute to overwhelming veterans of any gender, whove experienced sexual abuse or harassment: justice; safe sanctuary and capacity to be heard.

Justice is key

Justice and perceived fairness relate to both backlash but also potentially, female veteran suicide.

In my view, the ADF cultural interventions of 2013 to 2014 did achieve some necessary change, yet were also at times heavy-handed, disproportionately shaming of men, simplistic, and at timesunjust. There was a lack of understanding of the importance of team dynamics and military culture. The intervention also somewhat ignored at least at the start the fact men (not just boys atHMAS Leeuwin) also experienced sexual abuse and bullying. This led to an environment of fear and resentment by some which undermined the original intentions.

Yet ineffective justice cut both ways. It is unclear whether cultural change initiatives were accompanied by adequate upskilling and strengthening of military justice systems to fairly investigate and manage sexual abuse. Further, given the troubles within the Morrison Government in the treatment of employees, it is doubtful whether effective Ministerial oversight occurred.

Additionally, there is the possibility justice systems were weaponised against victims to protect the institution or key personnel. If justice systems fail victims, this can lead to what is known asinjustice trauma.

The tragic fact thatKate Thorntoncommitted suicide the day after withdrawing her police complaint suggests how hard injustice can hit.

Sanctuary trauma

Similarly,sanctuary traumacan occur when a victim approaches people or agencies they assume will help, but instead finds indifference, incompetence or veiled ill will.

Recall the shockwaves that were sent through the Australian population when the Minister of Women, Marise Paynewould not meetthe_Womens March_crowd assembled outside Parliament House? Ultimately, her loyalty was to her superior and her party; and if it wasnt she wouldnt be in the job. This very problem is replicated across many women and humans rights agencies across the country. Some appointees, while claiming to support victims or human rights, maybe more focused on legitimising and supporting institutional leadership, or they may have been deliberately made toothless. Victims will find this a huge punch in the guts.

The loss of voice

An ongoing problem in developing effective solutions but also healing, as ex-Parliament House staffer Dhanya Maniidentified, is the non-inclusion of victims in policymaking, or the loss or appropriation of their voice in the process.

Undoubtedly, the most powerful and clear-headed voices on reforms for Australian women have been survivors such as Rosie Batty; Grace Tame; Brittany Higgins; Dhanya Mani; Chesley Potter and others, so it is a mystery why this still occurs. Yet still, female veterans whove experienced sexual abuse or discrimination, and failed justice, can find they are thereafter treated like lepers, or in todays vernacular they can feel cancelled.

The Royal Commission must deliver

Australian Parliament House sexual abuse scandals uncovered the justice or careerproblem where reporting workplace problems meant losing your job; it is on another level of horror that reporting abuse could mean losing your life.

The sexual abuse issue, and response to reporting, maybe one part of the puzzle of why the female veteran suicide rate is so high.

Hopefully, the Royal Commission, due to finalise its report by 17 June 2024, gets to the bottom of the problem.

At this stage, it can be noted that the suicide figures are alarming. They sit in the context of a vicious cultural war and backlash against diveristy, equity and inclusion initiatives. It must also be noted that there is a growth trend in these sorts of problems and common examples of institutional ineptitude, cover-ups, and even retaliation against those who report problems.

Crisis Support

If this article has raised issues for you, these numbers may assist:

Open Arms veterans and their families counselling service: 1800 011 046

Defence Member and Family Helpline: 1800 624 608

Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14

Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467

Defence All-hours Support Line: 1800 628 036

Beyond Blue counselling service: 1300 224 636

Respect counselling for sexual assault, family, and domestic violence: 1800 737 732 Mens Line: 1300 78 99 78

Mens Referral Service: 1300 766 491

13YARN: First Nations people in crisis. 13 92 76

Do you wish to make a submission?

Submissions to theRoyal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicidecan be made up until 13 October 2023, details**here.**

First published in Womens Agenda February 10, 2023