Mental health and wellbeing support for current and ex-serving Australian Defence Force personnel and their families
-
Current serving
Open Arms can help you build resilience, and enhance your mental health and wellbeing. -
Ex-serving
Open Arms can help you work through mental health and wellbeing issues after you’ve left the service. -
Family
Open Arms counselling is available to family members of current and ex-serving ADF personnel, including partners and both younger and adult children. Where there has been a death of a service person, parents and siblings can also access our service.
Signs and symptoms
There are a range of warning signs to look out for that may prevent you from being your best. If you are feeling down or anxious, or worried about what you are doing - there are things you can do, and support is available.
-
Counselling
Open Arms can provide individual, couple and family counselling to help improve your resilience, as well as enhance your mental health and wellbeing. Call 1800-011-046 for free and confidential 24/7 support. -
Treatment programs and workshops
Open Arms offers group treatment programs and educational workshops, relationship retreats, and suicide prevention workshops. -
Eligibility
If you have served in the ADF, you, your partner and your children can access support through Open Arms. -
Confidentiality and privacy
Open Arms offers free and confidential counselling, and in some circumstances working with the DVA or ADF.
-
Celebrating National Volunteer Week
National Volunteer Week runs from 17-23 May in celebration of Australia’s nearly six million volunteers. Open Arms recognises the significant contribution made to volunteering by current and ex-serving ADF members and their families. -
Reconnecting after deployment or absence
Life in the military can include time apart from family and friends due to deployment, training or commitments such as Reserve duties. Serving members might experience living in different locations and having new experiences, some of which can be exciting but may also be difficult, or even traumatic. -
Observing Anzac Day 2021
Anzac Day can be a time of heightened emotions for the defence and veteran communities, and this past year has presented more challenges than most. The floods, bushfires, COVID-19 pandemic and release of the IGADF Afghanistan report have all impacted our lives in some way.
Open Arms for health professionals
Open Arms provides training and support to all our counsellors, to enable the ongoing delivery of high quality mental health assessment and clinical counselling for Australian veterans and their families