Ian’s story: From service to support

Content note: This story discusses suicide. 

When Ian joined the Air Force in 1968, it marked the beginning of a lifelong commitment to service. Over the next five decades, he served 37 years full-time and another 15 in the reserves, building a career that spanned active duty, leadership, and mentoring roles across Defence. 

“In my later years in the reserve, I was doing more mentoring and coaching,” Ian explains. “And I started to think, what do we do when we come across people who have mental health issues that are interfering with their ability or functioning?” 

While Ian completed suicide prevention training during his service, he felt it didn’t go far enough. “If concerned about someone, we were encouraged to ask, ‘Are you thinking of killing yourself?’ But what do we do if they say yes? We never seemed to get past that.”

Determined to find a more practical solution, Ian completed the adult Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course. “It was so much better. It equips you with the skills and confidence to have conversations and offer support,” he says. “And because of my rank, I was fortunate enough to re-introduce MHFA courses into Air Force and Defence.”

When he eventually stepped away from service, Ian wasn’t ready to stop. He and his wife launched a Rotary project to deliver MHFA in the community so that veterans and their families have the skills to look out for each other post service. “I thought, well, I’ve got these skills to train people, I might as well keep going.” 

The transition that’s often overlooked

Ian says the biggest shift he’s seen is when people leave uniform.  

“While serving, people have structure, purpose, and a ready support network. Once out, that busyness and sense of purpose can vanish and mental health problems can surface.” 

He describes three common challenges veterans face: 

• Losing their sense of purpose 

• Losing the busyness that kept them going 

• Believing they should solve everything alone. 

“Service people are rewarded for being proactive, for solving problems – so they don’t always think to look elsewhere for help.” 

He adds that while there are many organisations that offer support, many veterans still feel disconnected. “It’s no good looking back to service and saying, ‘Why aren’t they helping me?’ You’ve got to find new ways to stay connected in your community.” 

Why Mental Health Protect resonates

Ian now delivers the Mental Health First Aid for the Veteran Community as part of the Mental Health Protect program, a fully funded training program supported by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. He says the training works because it combines the solid foundations of MHFA with specific lived experience of serving and ex-serving Defence members. 

“The training spotlights real experiences, such as Craig’s, who went from the peak of his profession to considering taking his own life. It normalises the challenges. You see people watching the video, nodding, relating.” 

Ian has also seen how the course creates space for veterans to reconnect. “The camaraderie is still there. The banter, the trust, it’s like they’re back in service, but now they’re learning how to support each other.” 

Even non-veterans who attend, such as carers, family members and professionals, come away with a deeper understanding of their loved ones. “It’s a beautiful summary of what makes veterans’ experiences different, without placing judgement.” 

He’s noticed something else too: veterans tend to open up more during the MHFA sessions tailored as part of this program. “I was struck by how much lived experience came out in the room. When training is delivered by someone with service experience, it increases trust and allows safe sidetracks where honest conversation can happen.” 

Ian recalls a recent conversation with a training participant who was experiencing several mental health problems. 

“He soaked it all up. Told a bit of his story. And at the end, he just came up to me at the bus stop and said, ‘Thank you so much. That helped’. That’s what it’s about. Giving people the space to learn about themselves and support one another.” 

A message for veterans

For Ian, the MHFA course and broader Mental Health Protect program is more than training, it’s a chance to shift perspective. 

“It builds knowledge, skills, and confidence – but it also helps people put aside judgement. It helps them see others as they are. And it gives you tools to look after your own mental health too.” 

He’s seen how stigma fades when people share their stories. “You hear someone say, ‘This happened to me,’ and someone else nods. That connection, it helps. It helps people feel less alone.” 

Ian shares a message to other veterans and the Australian community. 

“The training course is time well spent. It helps remove stigma. It helps people talk. And it helps them support each other. All of this can, and does, save lives.”

If you or someone you know needs support, Mental Health First Aid encourages you to reach out to Lifeline | 13 11 14, 13Yarn | 13 19 76 or Suicide Callback Service | 1300 659 467. Find further supports.