6 THE ADVOCATE
HEALTH
Online hate surges during pandemic and solutions aren’t being funded
New veteran programs set to combat mental health crisis
Online Hate Prevention Institute
Mates4Mates Australia
SARAH JACOB
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s Australia sought to stop the spread of the coronavirus by putting hot spot areas into lockdown, many people found that their social interactions were now limited to contact via online platforms. There, some communities found themselves under attack by trolls and online bullies. “We’ve seen a huge wave of online [hate] content,” said Andre Oboler, CEO of the Online Hate Prevention Institute (OHPI). Oboler believes that the isolation of lockdown was made much worse for marginalised communities by the increase in abuse, as a large section of the community took to online forums to vent their frustration and anger over coronavirus restrictions. He believes that the damage done during this period will have far-reaching effects on our society, long after the virus is gone. “They were effectively excluded from society. They were even more isolated than everybody else during lockdown,” he said. “The attitudes which have developed through this content spreading online include a lot of xenophobia, racism and intolerance, and undermine the usual multicultural, inclusive values of our society. That won’t go away after the pandemic ends. We’re seeing a hardening of attitudes that will take a long time to correct.” Although this issue has been raised by some media outlets, resolving the problem does not appear to be a priority for the Australian government as the country starts to move towards “COVID normal”, as shown by a lack of funding directed to this area. This reluctance reflects a disinclination by the current government on a broader scale to implement and fund anti-hate speech initiatives. The Australian Human Rights Commission is the government body tasked with tackling discrimination, including online hate. Funding for the Commissions’ Anti-Racism Strategy ended in 2015, and it has repeatedly requested additional funding to develop a new strategy, which is supported by the opposition and NGOs. Regardless, Oboler said that a response led only by government would not be effective. “All of the money goes to having more police, giving the police more resources, when in actual fact there’s an important role that civil society needs to play,” he said. OHPI is the only Australian charity focused on online forms of hate speech. It is frequently approached by the government to provide data and assistance in order to tackle the problem, but no funding has been made available to produce this information. “We can only hope donations from new supporters will help close the gap,” Oboler said,
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ates4Mates is calling on Australians to help combat the widespread mental health issues and injuries faced by veterans across Australia.. Funds raised will go towards the roll out of more than 50 face-to-face and online programs in 2021, each providing veterans and their families with vital support and new skills to help manage the challenges they face. Anxiety, depression, trauma, persistent pain, relationships, and addiction will be some of the topics covered in the workshops which will range from 90-minute sessions to 12-week programs, all designed to ultimately reduce the risk of more complex health issues and suicide. Mates4Mates CEO Troy Watson said some veterans still lacked access to comprehensive rehabilitation and support services, resulting in isolation and complex mental health issues. “Research shows that among veterans, mental health issues are significantly higher than the general Australian community,” Mr Watson said. “Even self-reported levels of high to very high psychological distress is almost three times higher among veterans, than the Australian community. “With the challenges from COVID-19, mental health issues and isolation have only increased. “We urgently need to deliver more targeted services to ultimately help prevent more suicides and give our veterans hope, and we know that our new suite of workshops will make a difference. “But we can’t do it alone. As a charity, we rely on the support of the community and our partners to provide ongoing services.” Mates4Mates provides support and rehabilitation services for current and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members who have physical or mental service-related injuries, and their families. “We currently support over 5000 veterans and family members and each year provide thousands of psychology appointments and physical rehabilitation sessions, and essential wellbeing and social connection activities,” Mr Watson said. “Please, donate today so that we can help more veterans tomorrow.” As well as donations from the community, Mates4Mat0. DONATE TODAY at mates4matesappeal.org.
HEALTH
PTSD Awareness Day highlights the struggles of defence force veterans SARAH JACOB
Mates 4 Mates is a national charity that helps veterans and their families rebuild their lives after servicerelated injuries.
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his year, with the added stresses of the COVID-19 crisis, Mates 4 Mates is strongly encouraging Australian Defence Force (ADF) members to contact their Family Recovery Centre to learn more about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and what support is available. Mates 4 Mates is a national charity that helps veterans and their families rebuild their lives after service-related injuries. It is estimated that around 8 percent of active ADF members will have experienced PTSD in the past 12 months. This is significantly higher than in the Australian community (5.2 percent). The 2018 Mental Health Prevalence Report found that, for ADF members who have transitioned back into civil society, the number is much higher – around 17 percent. PTSD Awareness Day, which falls on 27 June every year, is designated to raise awareness of the impacts of this disorder. PTSD can occur in anyone who been through a traumatic event themselves or witnessed one. This can develop soon after the event or many years later. Mates 4 Mates psychologist Chris McIntyre says that while each person’s experience is different, many relive the traumatic event through vivid memories or nightmares, often accompanied by intense emotional and physical reactions. Retired Army Captain Jason Scanes has lived with PTSD since he returned from serving in Afghanistan. He said that he and his family have had to adjust their daily lives to accommodate his condition. “It really sucks the motivation out of
you,” Scanes said. “There are certain sounds and smells that trigger your senses and can take you right back to a traumatic event. Having your partner or a mate there to push you in the right direction and build your confidence is vital,” he added. PTSD often co-occurs with additional conditions like depression, anxiety and alcoholism, which can further complicate matters. McIntyre, however, says that PTSD is treatable in many cases with the
Facebook & In NAIDOC Week 8 - 15 November
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AIDOC has partnered with Facebook Australia to launch new tools and initiatives to celebrate Indigenous people, stories, and businesses for NAIDOC Week 2020. Starting on Sunday, 8 November across Facebook and Instagram, Australians will be empowered to connect with this year’s ‘Always Was, Always Will Be’ theme and with Indigenous-designed tools, creators, and businesses. In welcoming the partnership, National NAIDOC Co Chair, John Paul Janke said it was an exciting opportunity to expand the reach and footprint of NAIDOC Week like never before. “Millions of Australians can now join
