Support is available throughout the 2022 Holiday Season

For many people, the holidays are a wonderful time of year, filled with festive celebration and time spent with family and friends. As exciting as this can be, we recognise that for some it can be a lonely and stressful time.

A number of factors can emphasise these difficult feelings. These might include being posted away from family and friends, coping with mental distress, or missing a loved one. At a time when it seems that everyone is spending quality time with the ones they love, it’s understandable that some might feel like they’re missing out.

We also recognise that there are a number of contemporary events that may be impacting veterans and veteran families, and these have contributed to a challenging couple of years for some in our community.

The challenges of COVID-19, the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, and ongoing media related to the Brereton Report may all contribute to a difficult time for veterans.  

If you know someone in the veteran community that might be struggling at this time of year, reach out and see how they’re doing. You don’t need to have all the answers, just let them know where they can get support.

We are available for veterans and families right throughout this holiday time. Anyone who is dealing with mental ill-health is encouraged to reach out for support. We are staffed by trained professionals who understand military service.

To find out more about who we support click here, and to find out about what to expect when you contact us, click here.

If you have served just one day in the ADF, or are the family member of someone who has, contact us to find out which one of our programs is most suitable for you. If you know someone that might be struggling, reach out and let them know that support is available.

Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling is free, confidential and available 24/7 on 1800 011 046.