New resource supports trauma-informed mental health care for veterans
The General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration (GPMHSC) has released a new resource to help GPs provide trauma-informed, person-centred mental health care to patients who have served in the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
Caring for diverse populations: a resource for GPs supporting veterans is designed for use with patients who are a veteran and for those who are a carer for someone who is a veteran*.
Most veterans who die by suicide have had contact with a GP in the previous year
An Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) analysis of ex-serving ADF members who died by suicide found that 86% had accessed at least one in-scope health service in the 12 months before their death. Of the health subservices examined, GP services were used by the greatest proportion.
The figure points to general practice as a practical suicide intervention point, through the delivery of trauma-informed care for veterans with the support of resources such as the GPMHSC’s resource for GPs supporting veterans.
The GP resource on veterans focuses on how to ask, not what to diagnose
The guide is structured around the shape of a consultation, with each section setting out a purpose, the reasoning behind it, and suggested wording. It covers:
introductions, preferred name and pronouns, and explaining confidentiality and its limits upfront
offering, rather than requiring, the opportunity to share service history, deployments and transition experiences
physical and emotional health, including pain, sleep, appetite, energy and substance use
safety and suicide risk assessment, including harm from others and harm to self
trauma disclosure, with clear guidance to ask about symptoms rather than the details of the trauma itself
strengths, peer connections and ex-service organisation supports
collaborative planning for future care.
It also includes a section on veteran-specific administration, including:
Veteran Card types and eligibility
DVA billing and referral requirements,
the Coordinated Veterans' Care program
the Veterans' Health Check
transport under the Repatriation Transport Scheme.
About the GPPMHSC resource and its authors
The General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration (GPMHSC) is a multidisciplinary body funded by the Australian Government under the Better Access initiative and managed by the RACGP, with members nominated by the RACGP, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, the Australian Psychological Society and Mental Health Australia. The veterans resource was developed by an expert working group including a GP representative and lived experience consumer and carer representatives, and reviewed by external organisations including DVA and RACGP Specific Interests Group chairs.
A new DVA incentive from 1 July 2026 supports longer mental health consultations
The resource is complimentary to the Veteran Mental Health Incentive, available since 1 July 2026. GPs can co-claim an additional $99.30 incentive item with an attendance item for the development of a Better Access GP MHTP, or with a time-tiered consultation of 20 minutes or more where the attendance is for review of an MHTP and provision of ongoing mental health care.
The incentive can be claimed up to 4 times per year for each eligible patient. A separate $162.70 incentive is available to psychiatrists, up to twice per year.
No additional training is required to claim the incentive. DVA has advised that online claiming will be available later in 2026, and that providers can submit manual claims or hold claims until billing systems are updated.
The incentive responds to recommendations 71 and 72 of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. Read the DVA provider update.
More information and helpful links for health professionals
Brisbane South HealthPathways provides local assessment, management and referral advice for clinicians. Relevant pathways include veteran health, veterans' health assessment, veteran referral and support, veteran care practice management and defence and veteran family support.
VETs HeLP is a free, CPD-accredited e-learning platform covering transition to civilian life, mental health and chronic pain in veteran populations. DVA encourages providers claiming the new incentive to complete this training.
For a wider overview of veteran programs, funding and referral pathways, see our earlier article, Resources for health professionals who care for veterans.
If this article raises concerns for you or someone you support:
Open Arms — Veterans and Families Counselling is available 24 hours for crisis support. Call 1800 011 046.
Lifeline’s crisis support is available 24 hours a day by phone on 13 11 14.
Medicare Mental Health is available online and by phoning 1800 595 212
*Veterans are people who have served in the ADF in a permanent, reserve or ex-serving capacity, regardless of deployment history. Most come through their service physically and mentally well, and value the skills, community and life experience they have gained. For those who do experience mental health concerns, general practice is often the first and most consistent point of contact.