AICAFMHA:
promoting mental health for young Australians
Australian Infant, Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Association Ltd
ABN 87 093 479 022
Vietnam Veterans Sons and Daughters
| Date update submitted | 9/10/2002 |
| Program Title | Vietnam Veterans Sons and Daughters Suicide Prevention Project |
| Contact Person/s | Ana Luz-Raymond & Jane Pool |
| Organisation | Vietnam Veterans Counselling Service |
| Address | 99 Frome Street Adelaide 5000 |
| State | SA |
| SAVVCS@dva.gov.au | |
| Telephone | 08 8290 0300 |
| Facsimile | 08 8290 0303 |
| Program Description | There are approx. 70,00 sons and daughters of Vietnam
veterans. A number of veterans, after returning from war service, experienced stress
in their daily lives associated with their war experience. Some continue to experience
mental health problems complicated by alcohol or drug abuse, anxiety or depression,
otherwise known as Post-Traumatic Stress. This condition has been shown in a health study
conducted in 1998 and validated by the Australian Institute of Health & Welfare to have had
an adverse impact on veteran's children as they were growing up. Some sons and daughters have
experienced a difficult family life leading to feelings of social and emotional isolation,
sadness, anger, aggression, shame, disappointment, a low sense of safety, self-blame, and
feeling overly responsible for other people. These feelings and attitudes can lead to
relationship and mental health difficulties for young adults. A significant feature of the
Vietnam Veterans Health Study (1998) revealed that these young adults have three times
greater risk of self-harm and suicide than their cohorts in the wider community. VVCS has been
consulting with sons and daughters in these situations to work out the best ways to develop
mental health promotion activities that will increase their strengths, skills and ability to
bounce back. VVCS can assist sons and daughters to get access to a range of services, activities
and programs that may be of assistance, such as: * information * free confidential counselling and referrals * psychiatric assessments * groups * mental health promotion. |
| Evaluation Information | The Vietnam Veterans Sons and Daughters Suicide Prevention is presently (2002) undergoing an independent national evaluation. The final report is pending at the time of this entry. |
| Evidence | Morbidity of Vietnam veterans: A Study of the Health of Australia's Vietnam Veteran Community consucted in 1989. |
| Any other information | VVCS recognises it cannot provide a fully comprehensive service to sons and daughters. It is limited in it's services for high-rish young people. Therefore we are strongly focused on forming linkages, partnerships and other such collaborations with services that can assist the aforementioned group. |
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