As Australia prepares to send more troops to the Middle East, there's a simple question. Are we doing enough to look after the people who have already served their country?
Forty-one soldiers died in Afghanistan. Hundreds more were physically injured. But thousands carry invisible wounds.
PTSD, is a commonly used term, but what does it really mean?
The thing about PTSD is, it takes highly functioning, highly capable, highly talented, some of the best people we have, and it makes them completely unable to function. - Professor Zac Steele, Psychologist
The result of this system malfunction might vary, but in Lee's case it meant depression, anger, relationship breakdown and ultimately homelessness.
For the first time, cameras are allowed inside gruelling therapy sessions as men, who gave so much for their country, fight a new enemy and try to deal with their illness.
Across Australia it's estimated hundreds, perhaps thousands, of veterans are dealing with some form of mental illness, brought on by their service.
This week on Four Corners reporter Quentin McDermott hears how the Defence Force often doesn't diagnose their illness; how the armed services do not always follow through with help once soldiers have left the ranks; and how the bureaucratic processes of the Department of Veterans' Affairs can drive some to despair.
"There is no idea how many are suffering. And that's going to continue until the Army realises or accepts the fact that this is real, this is what happens. This is just the tip of the iceberg." - Dave Tonkin, father of a veteran who took his life
BRINGING THE WAR HOME, reported by Quentin McDermott and presented by Kerry O'Brien, goes to air on Monday 9th March at 8.30pm on ABC. It is replayed on Tuesday 10th March at 10.00am and Wednesday 11th March at midnight. It can also be seen onABC News 24 at 8.00pm on Saturday, ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners .
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