Defence Minister Linda Reynolds faces an agonising question. Should she say to Scott Morrison that she doesn't feel up to staying in what is one of the most demanding portfolios in the government?
Linda Reynolds future is in her own hands | Canberra CityNews citynews.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from citynews.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Bill for veterans mental health care reaches $241m with 20,000 in rehab
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The taxpayer bill for the mental health care of former defence personnel has ballooned 35 per cent in five years, with nearly 20,000 former service members checking into rehab clinics every year.
The problem of addiction and mental illnesses among former service members is so great that some treatment providers are starting to offer veterans-only programs, including The Buttery in northern NSW kicking off a pilot study this month.
Senator Jacqui Lambie says alcohol and substance abuse issues are rife among veterans and the system is failing them at every turn.