A spate of suicides among young sailors from HMAS Stirling naval base rang alarm bells at the highest levels in the Australian Navy, but despite this some recommendations made to prevent further deaths had not been acted on.
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Documents obtained by Fairfax Media have revealed that then Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Ray Griggs expressed his written concerns after three suicides in "one posting rotation", saying issues raised about the death of a boatswain in February 2012 "in fact ... echo the discussions we have already had".
Vice Admiral Griggs, who is now Vice Chief of Defence, hand-wrote a note on a navy brief to the COMAUSFLEET (Commander of the Australian Fleet) about the suicide of Stuart Addison saying: "I require a targeted support / suicide awareness program aimed at the junior BM [boatswain] community ... I believe a more a more general suicide awareness/prevention campaign at FB (W) [fleet base west] is also warranted. I am a little concerned that there 'appears' to be no apparent pickup of the QAO [quick assessment officers] recs, I hope I am wrong."
The documents obtained under freedom of information revealed that a Quick Assessment Officer had recommended that, following three suicides in one year, support be provided to the boatswains as well as a mentor program being implemented within the boatswains category and increased visits by support services. It was those recommendations Vice Admiral Griggs was referring to as not being picked up.
A statement from the navy said: "At the time of the incidents navy initiated a mandatory intervention that required all boatswains mates to attend a suicide awareness program as well as briefs from navy chaplains and the alcohol and drug program adviser. The statement did not address questions about the recommendations for a dedicated mentor program or the increased visits by support services to the boatswains at HMAS Stirling. It said an internal navy review into the suicides at HMAS Stirling has not yet been finalised."
Boatswain Ewen McDonald had killed himself the year before Stuart Addison, after being bullied and suffering major depression. Stuart's suicide was followed four months later by the suicide of his friend and fellow sailor Brett Dwyer. Their deaths were followed by the suicide of another mate and former sailor Jake Casey. Since 2013 Defence have confirmed there have been another six suicides.
Brett's father Mark Dwyer told Fairfax Media he believes there have been as many as 25 suicides of navy personnel in the past few years who have been stationed at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia.
"What they are doing is nothing short of murder," said Mr Dwyer.
"This problem seems to be happening only in Western Australia and to guys who are from the east coast. They have failed in their duty of care to my son."
Mr Dwyer said Brett was one of a number of the young sailors who had been under the care of a psychiatrist who had prescribed them the anti-depression medication mirtazapine before they killed themselves.
Mr Dwyer said his son had been prescribed a very high dose of the drug and he is concerned the drug may have contributed the suicidal tendencies in his son and others.
The drug manufacturer warns that one of the side effects of the drug can be suicidal thoughts and actions.
RSL advocate Brian O'Neill, who was acting for Brett Dwyer, who had been discharged before he killed himself, believes Brett and others could have been saved if the navy had acted earlier.
Mr O'Neill said the common thread between all of the suicides was a culture of abuse, depression and then drinking and drug-taking as a way of coping.
He said that Brett Dwyer had told the navy he had used illicit drugs as a way of getting a fast discharge. It has since been proved he did not take illicit drugs. Mr O'Neill and Mr Dwyer both said Brett had told them the real reason was he wanted out of the navy was the abuse and bullying.
"He told me before he died that he had been bullied and abused," said Mr O'Neill.
He said the three men who had suicided had all reported being abused.
"The navy doesn't ask the questions why they took up drink or drugs. Nine out of 10 times it seems to be the threats bullying and abuse they get when they first go onboard ship," he said.
Mr O'Neill said Jake Casey had taken up drugs because of the abuse he had suffered in the navy. He had gone to drug rehab but had a bad motorbike accident on the way back to base. He was discharged and later took his own life.
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