
Riding to support veterans
It’s through the generosity of community fundraisers that helps Mates4Mates to continue providing its vital services to veterans and their families who have been impacted by service.
With social media and 24-hour news coverage, the access to information has never been easier. Although this can make it hard to avoid potentially triggering stories, knowing how to safely cope with confronting news is important.
More recently, this can include news relating to the pandemic or the war in Ukraine, but as a veteran, the risk of encountering triggering stories can be extremely high.
The situation in Afghanistan, the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, and other confronting media surrounding the Australian Defence Force and veterans can be a genuine health risk to those who have been impacted by service.
Being confronted with lots of negative news stories and articles from social media platforms can trigger a number of unhelpful responses.
It can lead us to feeling more anxious, afraid, and stressed which can trigger physical responses such as:
From a mental health perspective, spending increased time on social media and being exposed to confronting news articles can lead to changes in mood and make us feel more isolated and lonelier. This can increase the likelihood of experiencing symptoms of depression, further impacting on our psychological wellbeing.
For veterans and their families, the seriousness of these health impacts, over both the short and long-term, shouldn’t be ignored. It is important that stress is effectively managed so that physical and psychological impacts are minimised.
With potential triggers at our fingertips through our phones, computer, and TVs, it can be hard to understand how to safely cope with news at times.
It is important to think about what is possible for us to do in the face of confronting news.
There are many situations that we are unable to change or have any impact on and it is important to consider this when thinking about our response – which is something that we can control.
There are several strategies that might help:
If you are in crisis and need immediate support, contact 000 or attend your nearest hospital. For more crisis support contacts, click here.
Written by Clare Mitchell, Mates4Mates National Clinical Manager
It’s through the generosity of community fundraisers that helps Mates4Mates to continue providing its vital services to veterans and their families who have been impacted by service.