Five years of Peers - Joe

Just 18 months ago, one of Open Arms newest recruits to its Community and Peer Program, Joe, admits he was in a bad way struggling with chronic anxiety. 
“I’d always wanted to serve in the Army and when I got out in 2018, I mourned my old life and wondered who I was without that green uniform,” he explained. 
“Over time I become snappy, developed insomnia, was not loving life and my mental health was going south. 
“Added to that, my oldest son’s disabilities had gone to extreme levels. We’d actually lost count of the number of operations and procedures he’d had. 
“After my family and close mates convinced me to get help, I called Open Arms in 2023 and saw a psychologist for 10 months. 
“I haven’t looked back. Not every day is perfect but my anxiety has got so much better.”   
Armed with a more positive outlook on life, the Army veteran decided to pay it forward by joining Open Arms later that year to help others get their own lives back on track.    
“A mate sent me the position, told me to apply for it and said he would be angry if I didn’t because it fitted me to a tee,” he said.
“I am glad he did. I haven’t felt this kind of purpose since my time in the green. This was the work I was meant to do and I love it.” 
In his new role, Joe describes himself as just ”a dude on the recovery bus” who helps veterans to climb into the driver’s seat, put both hands firmly on the wheel and steer their own journey to good mental health.   
‘I know what it is like to go down a dark road, make the difficult decision to seek help and discover there is light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. 
“I am on the same mental health journey as the veterans I help, I am just that little bit further along.” 
Joe also hopes that he can help to dispel any remaining stigmas around mental health which may still exist for some veterans.   
‘There is nothing shameful about seeking help or doing what you need to do to make the best possible recovery,” he said. 
“I’ve seen the effects my mental health has had on my family. My wife also shared that experience with me. Getting help means I am now a better husband, father and am generally travelling better.”  
Joe says that after just 12 months in his new role he has already had a ‘goosebumps’ moment at a community engagement event.
‘Having a client approach me who wasn’t aware of what supports they have available to them,” he said. 
“I’m now part of their recovery journey. Being involved even in a small component of someone’s recovery is an honour.”
Joe says he is very happy to have joined the ranks of Launceston’s Open Arms team, who are all dedicated to making a genuine difference to the lives of local veterans. 
“I work with an awesome team of Peers and Clinicians and, as a team, we help clients to achieve some pretty amazing goals,” he said. 
Continuing on his own road to recovery, what advice does Joe follow to keep his mental health on track? 
“I meditate and do weight training,” he said.  
“Sometimes it’s really hard to leave work at work. When someone you get to know struggles, it can affect you too. The passion and caring I have for others is great but it can also have negative sides to it. I’m getting better at this though.”