Honouring Our Veterans Means Giving Them The Care They Actually Need
Dr Brian Walker examines the tragic reality of veteran suicide rates and questions why legislative barriers continue to prevent access to effective, evidence-based mental health and pain management treatments.
A silent crisis in our ranks
We spent the day reflecting on service and sacrifice. It is a time for solemn remembrance, but as a doctor, I see another side to this coin. Beyond the wreaths and the parades, there is a quiet, persistent crisis unfolding in the lives of those who served. The data is clear. Medically discharged male veterans are facing significantly higher rates of suicide than the general population. This is not just a statistic: it is a failure of our duty to those who bore the battle.
The weight of the waiting room
In my years as a GP, I have seen the damage that bureaucracy inflicts on the vulnerable. When a patient arrives at my clinic in pain or struggling with mental health, they need empathy and effective medicine, not red tape. For many veterans, their treatment path is blocked by antiquated regulations that do not reflect the modern medical landscape. When we restrict access to treatments like medicinal cannabis, we are not protecting our veterans. We are leaving them to navigate a system that often feels designed to say no.
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Evidence over ideology
I recently stood in the House to ask the government if they would examine the specific barriers veterans face. Are our current workplace laws and driving regulations keeping them from accessing the care that could save their lives? The official response was a list of budget figures. Money is important, but funding is not the same as reform. We need to be brave enough to look at the evidence and admit where our laws are failing our heroes. A budget increase does nothing if the legislative gate remains locked.
We are a community of forward thinkers who believe that health policy should be led by science, not by inertia. We cannot claim to honour our veterans while simultaneously maintaining legal barriers that hinder their recovery. You can read the full exchange from this recent sitting in the Legislative Council to see exactly where we stand. If you are tired of the status quo and want to see real, evidence-based change in Western Australia, I invite you to join Legalise Cannabis WA today.
