Royal Commission at a glance
The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide was established in July 2021 and concluded in September 2024 when the Commissioners delivered the Final Report.
Here are those three years of inquiry at a glance.
Royal Commission at a glance
The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide was established in July 2021.
Between 1997 and 2021 there were 1,677 confirmed suicides by serving and ex-serving members. That is 20 times more than the number of people that were killed in combat. We believe the actual number of preventable deaths by suicide to be higher than 3,000.
Male suicide statistics
- Male members serving in the permanent forces are 30% more likely to die by suicide than employed Australian males.
- Male permanent members serving in a combat or security role are 100% more likely to die by suicide than employed Australian males.
- Male ex-serving members who served in permanent forces are 42% more likely to die by suicide than Australia males.
- Male ex-serving members who served in combat or security roles in the Army are 112% more likely to die by suicide than Australian males.
Female suicide statistics
- Female permanent or reserve ex-serving members are 107% more likely to die by suicide than Australian females.
- Female ex-serving members who served in combat or security roles are 452% more likely to die by suicide than Australia females.
This is an ongoing crisis with an average of three deaths by suicide every fortnight over the last decade.
The Royal Commission has received close to 5,900 submissions and conducted almost 900 private sessions with people with lived experience. We held 12 public hearings over 101 days across Australia, with 346 witnesses. We attended 26 visits to Defence bases Australia wide. We conducted nine external research projects and issued over 2,000 requests for information.
Submissions
- 80% of submissions were from serving and ex-serving members and their families. 1,209 from serving members and 3,366 from ex-serving members.
- The top five most frequently identified topics in submissions were:
- ADF culture, governance and accountability – 45%
- Mental illness – 35%
- DVA: claims and compensation – 32%
- ADF mental health support and responses – 31%
- Bullying and harassment – 24%
Did you know: Serving and ex-serving members have suicide related contact with emergency services at 24% higher odd than the general population? (in Queensland)
The Royal Commission released the Interim Report in August 2022, which included 13 recommendations. 11 recommendations were accepted by Government. We published a special book honouring the contribution of lived experience – Shining a Light.
The Final Report was delivered to the Governor-General on 9 September 2024, comprising 122 recommendations to address cultural and systemic challenges that are failing serving and ex-serving ADF members and their families – and costing lives.