MPs approve mental illness day
Post traumatic stress disorder now has its own day of awareness, after a letter was sent by partners of war veterans to every member of Parliament in WA.
The mental illness will be recognised annually on the last Friday of May, now to be known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day.
The day aims to raise awareness and support for people who battle the mental illness and their families. This year it falls on May 30.
Opposition spokesman for veterans’ affairs, Peter Watson, moved a motion in support of the day in State Parliament last month after receiving the letter from the Partners of Veterans Association.
The motion received strong support, despite the initial suggestion of holding it on the last Friday of June — the same day as Red Nose Day.
Mr Watson said it was important to find a day where nothing took away from the importance of the mental illness.
He said the issue deserved to be recognised because not only did it commonly affect veterans, but impacted on their entire families.
Bunbury RSL president John Gelmi said any support and understanding of the mental illness was welcomed.
“The more the public recognises it, the easier it is, ” Mr Gelmi said.
“It’s one of those things that people don’t recognise the signs of because they don’t know about it.”
Bunbury RSL welfare officer Steven Thompson said people in the wider community would benefit from more awareness.
“I’ve been a welfare officer for two years, and I’ve seen quite a number of people — it is significant.”
