The Mental Health ProtectTM program is open to adults over 18 years of age who are veterans or ex–serving or current members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), their families, employers, colleagues, carers and community members supporting them, including ex-service organisations, healthcare providers, and support personnel. 

This program is funded by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) on behalf of the Australian Government. Prevention of veteran suicide is a key priority for the Australian Government, with research showing that certain cohorts of veterans have a significantly higher risk of death by suicide than their civilian peers. The DVA has appointed Mental Health First Aid International to deliver the program of training in conjunction with LivingWorks. 

Mental Health First Aid International and LivingWorks courses provide the veteran community with the skills and knowledge needed to recognise signs and symptoms of mental health problems and those at risk of suicide, provide support and intervention, and enable the connection to mental health services. Increased education also helps to reduce the stigma around mental health and suicide that can discourage veterans and their families from connecting with available supports. This is essential in reducing the incidence of suicide within the veteran population. 

The veteran community, including ex-service organisations, veterans, families, caregivers and friends, play an important role in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of veterans. These groups may be the first point of contact for a veteran who is experiencing mental health problems, distress or suicidal ideation. 

Veterans face unique challenges that significantly increase their risk of psychological distress and suicide compared to the general public in Australia. Almost 3 in 4 transitioned ADF members have had a mental health disorder at some stage during their lifetime. Ex-serving males are 26% more likely to die by suicide than the general Australian male population, and ex-serving females are more than twice as likely to die by suicide than the general Australian female population. 

Veterans often deal with the aftermath of their service, including trauma, stress and the challenges of transitioning back into civilian life. The Mental Health Protect program is designed to provide veterans, their families and support networks with the necessary information, resources, and support to navigate these challenges, ultimately aiming to save lives and improve the quality of life for our veterans. 

The program includes evidence-based courses from Mental Health First Aid International and LivingWorks, focusing on mental health literacy and suicide prevention.  

The program includes: 

This program is open to all members of the veteran community, including adults over 18 years of age: 

• Families, friends, carers, employers, and colleagues of veterans and Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel 

• Health care professionals and community members supporting veterans and their families. 
• Veterans and current serving members from the ADF. 

The Mental Health Protect program is led by Mental Health First Aid International, on behalf of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA).  

Mental Health First Aid International offers mental health literacy training and has teamed up with LivingWorks to include a focus on suicide prevention. Mental Health First Aid International and LivingWorks are both leading global organisations offering evidence-based mental health literacy and suicide prevention training programs. 

In addition, DVA has engaged Phoenix Australia to work with Mental Health First Aid International to collect data and evaluate the programs. More information on this is included in the expression of interest participants form.  

The Mental Health Protect program will train approximately 4,000 members of the veteran community in Australia. We recommend you book a course as soon as possible to secure your place.

Enrolment is open now for some courses, and others are currently inviting individuals to join a waitlist to be notified when courses become available. Please see the Mental Health Protect page for registration or to join waitlists.

All courses will be available in August 2024, and will be delivered over a 12-month period until 30 June 2025. Various course dates will be made available on the Mental Health Protect page, and offered in various formats to provide flexibility in program delivery.

Yes, you may complete more than one course to gain a comprehensive understanding of mental health and suicide prevention.  

The Standard Mental Health First Aid for the veteran community course is focused on teaching the signs and symptoms of common mental health problems, and how to provide initial support to someone who may be experiencing these. It has been adapted with video and activities specifically for the veteran community. LivingWorks suicide prevention training focuses on teaching skills and strategies to keep individuals safe from suicide.  

Individuals who complete courses from both Mental Health First Aid International and LivingWorks can gain a comprehensive view to support people in their lives at all stages of their mental health journey.  

Yes, we aim to support learnings of all abilities. Please note your needs in the course registration stage or contact us for further assistance.