Open Door Seminar Series

Yet Another Battle: Reflections on Veterans' Pre-Assessment Distress

Australian veterans face distinct mental health challenges linked to military service and transition to civilian life, with suicide rates far exceeding the general population. Conditions like PTSD, moral injury, and depression often co-occur with physical injuries. Drawing on over 500 psychiatric assessments for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Dr Perera explores how military culture, identity, and emotional conditioning shape mental health presentation and help-seeking. This talk highlights barriers to care—such as stigma and cultural disconnect—and emphasises the need for trauma-informed, veteran-specific approaches. Associate Professor Charana Perera is a Consultant Psychiatrist and academic dedicated to improving the mental health of Defence personnel, veterans, and their families. A Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, he specialises in general psychiatry with a focus on military trauma, PTSD, moral injury, and complex veteran presentations.