Assistance dogs help reduce mental health symptoms among Australian Defence Force veterans and emergency services personnel: A pilot study.

The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the effectiveness of two specialized Australian PTSD assistance dog programs in reducing PTSD and mental health symptoms over a one-year period. A total of 44 participants who were partnered with an assistance dog were analysed. Using an intent to treat analysis, compared to the baseline measures, all mental health outcomes exhibited statistically significant reductions in scores at the 3-month follow-up, and persisted at the 6-month, and 12-month follow-up.

Families' experiences of supporting Australian veterans to seek help for a mental health problem: a linked data analysis of national surveys with families and veterans.

Background: Families play a critical role in supporting currently serving and transitioned veterans' wellbeing and help-seeking for mental health concerns; however, little is known about families' experiences.

Aims: This study used Australian national survey linked-data (n = 1217) from families (Family Wellbeing Study-FWS) and veterans (Mental Health Wellbeing Transition Study-MHWTS) to understand veteran-family help-seeking relationships.

Methods: Veterans' and family members' responses to mental health and help-seeking questions in FWS and MHWTS datasets from perspective of family members were cross-tabulated.

Incidence and factors impacting PTSD following the 2005 Eyre Peninsula bushfires in South Australia - A 7 year follow up study.

Objectives: To identify the incidence and factors impacting post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at 6 months, 2 and 7 years following the 2005 Eyre Peninsula bushfires in South Australia.

Methods: A questionnaire was used to assess symptoms.

Design And Setting: A longitudinal follow-up study with responses collected from a self-report booklet.

Families' experiences of supporting Australian veterans and emergency service first responders (ESFRs) to seek help for mental health problems.

The objective of this phenomenological study was to describe families' experiences of supporting veterans and emergency service first responders (ESFRs) (known also as public safety personnel) to seek help for a mental health problem. In-depth semi-structured open-ended interviews were undertaken with 25 family members of Australian veterans and ESFRs. Fourteen participants were family members of police officers.