Insight (1995)

Shell Shocked (2012x30)

: 23, 2012

There’s a new frontline in the battle against post-traumatic stress disorder: Afghanistan. Some soldiers and mental health experts say the intensity and volatility of the Afghanistan conflict is making post-traumatic stress disorder more acute and more prevalent than ever before. Adding to this problem is the fact that there is still a huge stigma around mental illness in the Australian Defence Force. Many soldiers are reluctant to seek help in an organisation where strength and toughness are revered. PTSD symptoms can take months or years to surface and can be severe: hyper-vigilance, nightmares, sleeplessness, explosive anger. Partners of returned soldiers are often copping the brunt of it. In this episode of Insight, current and former soldiers break their silence to reveal how they’re dealing with the after-effects of serving in Afghanistan.