HOLISTIC CARE HELPING VETERANS WITH PTSD

By Sarah Waters

Events such as Anzac Day have increasingly prompted conversations about the mental health of veterans and what help is available to them.

General Manager and Psychologist at Byron Private Treatment Centre Jenny McGee has extensive experience working with veterans who have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other mental health conditions that have resulted from their service.

Advertisements

In addition to evidence-based therapy for PTSD including, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Ms McGee said a holistic approach has profound benefits.

“What does happen with PTSD is that people are triggered by situations – people, places, sounds, smells and they can often be on high alert or hypervigilant where the whole nervous system is alerted, looking for danger and wanting to keep themselves safe and other people safe,” she said.

“For example, hearing a loud sound and thinking that they might be back in that dangerous situation and going to extremes to protect themselves and other people.

“Or it might manifest as irritability and the inability to engage socially like they might have once done.

“About 30 per cent of veterans with PTSD also suffer from addictions with alcohol and substances as they try to medicate their distress and symptoms.

“What can be additionally helpful for people is not only the evidence-based therapy they might undergo, but also to be in a green space and restful environment where they are able to allow the body and the physiological, high nervous system arousal to be lowered.”

About a third of the residents at Byron Private Treatment Centre are veterans, of all ages, who have served in different conflicts, sometimes generations apart.

General Manager and Psychologist at Byron Private Treatment Centre Jenny McGee has extensive experience working with veterans who have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Some of them are Australian Defence Force (ADF) members who have experienced PTSD from domestic service.

Ms McGee said veterans are encouraged to go to the beach daily, see the sunrise and connect to the natural cycles in nature.

“Research shows that exposure to nature can lower stress hormones, lower blood pressure, improve the mood and reduce the risk of developing other psychiatric disorders, like depression and anxiety,” she said.

Daily outdoor activities including swimming, surfing, bushwalking and even equine assisted therapy, are sustainable practises all servicemen and women can incorporate into their lives.

Research has also shown the Mediterranean diet improves symptoms of depression and stress.

While peer support in a mixed group therapy setting can help with the transition back into civilian/community life.

Ms McGee said the impact PTSD has on the nervous system, including irritability, avoidance behaviours and intrusive memories or dreams, are the same symptoms soldiers experienced in WWI when it was referred to as ‘shell shock’ or ‘battle fatigue’ in WWII.

However, there has been a radical shift in how the community and society understands mental health, including the need to offer really supportive treatment.

“I think even our stigmatisation of different conflicts and different veterans has changed.

“And we’ve moved much more largely to really acknowledging the service that men and women have provided for Australia.

“With evidence-based treatment and support, people can overcome PTSD.

“Sometimes it might last for over a year, but people can heal and also repair Relationships,” she said.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a condition that can develop in response to a single, or repeated exposure, to trauma.

A number of events have the potential to cause PTSD, including threat of death, serious injury, viewing or handling human remains and seeing someone badly injured or killed.

If you need support, please contact veterans and families counselling service provider Open Arms on their 24-hour phone line: 1800 011 046 or visit here and they can connect you with counselling services in the community.

The Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) also funds treatment for veterans.

For more information please visit here or visit here.

SIDEBAR:
The Transition and Wellbeing Research Programme report by the Department of Veteran Affairs states almost half (46 per cent) of the transitioned ADF were estimated to have met criteria for a lifetime anxiety disorder, and one-quarter were estimated to have met criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). When compared to the general population, only four or five per cent of people might experience PTSD in their lifetime.

For more Byron Bay news, click here.

Tweed Valley Hospital opens in five days

By Sarah Waters

The new Tweed Valley Hospital at 771 Cudgen Road, Cudgen will open to patients at 8am next Tuesday, May 14.

On the same day the Tweed Valley Hospital opens to patients, The Tweed Hospital at Powell Street, Tweed Heads, will close.

Advertisements

Anyone requiring emergency medical care from next Tuesday onwards should present to Tweed Valley Hospital.

All inpatients at The Tweed Hospital will be transferred to the new hospital.

This process is expected to take a full day, and is being coordinated in partnership with NSW Ambulance, NSW Police, Transport for NSW and Tweed Shire Council.

Hospital staff will liaise directly with affected patients and their families or carers.

A community health service providing a range of clinics and community outreach services, as well as the existing BreastScreen NSW service, will continue to be delivered at the Powell Street site in Tweed Heads.

However, there will be no emergency services or hospital inpatient services available at this location after Tuesday 14 May 2024.

Tweed Valley Hospital is located close to the M1 motorway and adjacent to Tweed Coast Road.

Emma Jane Davies and Sasha Harrington at the new Tweed Valley Hospital

The hospital is easily accessed by car and public transport.

If travelling by car, follow the M1 to Chinderah, and take the exit towards Cudgen/Kingscliff.

Continue on Tweed Coast Road and turn left at the intersection of Tweed Coast Road and Cudgen Road.

Drop off bays are located at the hospital’s three entrances – the main entrance, the emergency department and the east entrance.

Staff, patients and visitors will have access to over 1200 free on-site car parking spaces at the Tweed Valley Hospital.

There is long-term capacity for up to 1500 car spaces on the site.

Tweed Valley Hospital is located on a public transport route.

Bus stops are located on both sides of Cudgen Road, directly in front of the hospital, with a pedestrian crossing at the traffic lights.

Bus service provider Kinetic has the details of all bus routes – visit here to read the full announcement from Kinetic.

For any questions, please contact Kinetic Customer Experience Team directly at info@wearekinetic.com or (07) 5552 2700.

A taxi rank is also located at the main entry to the Hospital.

The hospital connects with established pedestrian and cycle routes in the area.

For more Tweed Shire news, click here.

Private Health Insurance Costs Under Scrutiny as Premiums and Profits Soar

Recent data analysis has spotlighted a concerning trend in the private health insurance sector, prompting a significant outcry for a comprehensive review. A surge in premiums has been linked not just to rising healthcare costs but also to an increase in insurer profits and management expenses, igniting a fierce debate between health professionals and insurance providers. Rising health insurance premiums

A study by the Australian Medical Association (AMA) reveals that while net insurance profits soared by over 50% from June 2019 to June 2023, patient rebates only saw a modest rise of 3.6%. This discrepancy raises questions about the allocation of premium dollars, suggesting that a substantial portion is diverted towards enhancing profit margins and covering operational costs, rather than directly benefiting policyholders through medical treatments or hospital care.

The findings have fuelled a dispute highlighted in a recent ABC Four Corners report, which accused some providers of overcharging for medical procedures, a claim refuted by the insurers but supported by insider revelations. The AMA has criticized the private health sector for not meeting the expected standards of financial management and transparency, suggesting that premiums are increasingly used to cover costs unrelated to patient care. Rising health insurance premiums

Advertisements

In defence, industry representatives like Dr. Rachel David, CEO of Private Health Australia, argue that management expenses are rigorously monitored and justified, attributing rising costs to broader economic inflation affecting all sectors. However, this assertion does little to pacify concerns about the disproportionate growth in profits and administrative expenses compared to the relatively stagnant increase in patient benefits.

The debate extends to the efficiency of fund utilization, with the AMA advocating for insurers to return at least 90 cents per dollar of premiums to policyholders, a standard that currently stands at about 86 cents, significantly higher than general insurance returns but below the proposed benchmark.

Amidst these escalating tensions and conflicting reports, National Seniors Australia has called on the Federal Government to assign the Productivity Commission the task of conducting an in-depth inquiry. This investigation would scrutinize the continual rise in private health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses, assess the value and scope of coverage, and propose necessary reforms to curtail costs and enhance service value, particularly for older Australians.

The proposed comprehensive review aims to halt the relentless cycle of premium hikes and restricted coverage that plagues policyholders, ensuring a fair, transparent, and efficient system that prioritizes patient care over profit. As stakeholders brace for a potential overhaul, the spotlight remains firmly on the need for a balanced and equitable approach to healthcare funding.

Supporters and concerned policyholders are encouraged to join the advocacy efforts by participating in National Seniors or contributing to the Health Costs campaign, as stakeholders push for a resolution that could redefine the landscape of private health insurance in Australia.