of ensuring that ADF mental health screening, awareness, early intervention and treatment programs are available to all ADF members regardless of their deployment status. A primary aim of mental health screening is to facilitate early intervention for treatment of mental health problems and mental illness. It does not prevent the development of a diagnosed mental health condition at either the time of the screen or at a later date. Mental health screening does provide an opportunity to identify symptoms and enable them to be addressed before they become entrenched and cause broader psychosocial problems for the individual. Defence already operates a comprehensive screening program that focuses on operational deployment and exposure to potentially traumatic events, and is exploring ways to extend and enhance this program through an ADF Mental Health Screening Continuum that will use a stepped approach to most effectively result in screening for all ADF personnel, regardless of their deployment status. Elements of the ADF Mental Health Screening Continuum will include: maintaining all existing ADF mental health screening processes, including Return to Australia Psychological Screens, Post Operational Psychological Screens, Critical Incident Mental Health Screens, Separation Health Examinations and Periodic Health Examinations; piloting a new mental health screening opportunity at selected primary health care centres; development of a Portal’, a web interface to allow the completion of an ‘Wellness anonymous, self-initiated screen designed to give members an opportunity to seek help if and when they choose and provide members with the means to access information and support; and expansion of the current Special Mental Health Screen to non-operational as well as operational settings. This will enable commanders to nominate individuals or groups for periodic screening due to the high risk nature of their duties, including in nonoperational environments. The Government supports Defence in its development of the ADF Mental Health Screening Continuum in a manner that will optimise the early identification of mental health problems and provide all ADF members with a stepped approach to appropriate early intervention, better self-management and improved access to care at the earliest possible opportunity. Recommendation 2 The committee recommends that the Australian National Audit Office conduct an audit into the scope and accuracy of recordkeeping of relevant clinical information collected or recorded during deployment regarding mental ill-health or potentially traumatic incidents. Government Response Noted The Government will advise the Auditor-General to consider this recommendation. Recommendation 3
of ensuring that ADF mental health screening, awareness, early intervention and treatment programs are available to all ADF members regardless of their deployment status. A primary aim of mental health screening is to facilitate early intervention for treatment of mental health problems and mental illness. It does not prevent the development of a diagnosed mental health condition at either the time of the screen or at a later date. Mental health screening does provide an opportunity to identify symptoms and enable them to be addressed before they become entrenched and cause broader psychosocial problems for the individual. Defence already operates a comprehensive screening program that focuses on operational deployment and exposure to potentially traumatic events, and is exploring ways to extend and enhance this program through an ADF Mental Health Screening Continuum that will use a stepped approach to most effectively result in screening for all ADF personnel, regardless of their deployment status. Elements of the ADF Mental Health Screening Continuum will include: maintaining all existing ADF mental health screening processes, including Return to Australia Psychological Screens, Post Operational Psychological Screens, Critical Incident Mental Health Screens, Separation Health Examinations and Periodic Health Examinations; piloting a new mental health screening opportunity at selected primary health care centres; development of a ‘Wellness Portal’, a web interface to allow the completion of an anonymous, self-initiated screen designed to give members an opportunity to seek help if and when they choose and provide members with the means to access information and support; and expansion of the current Special Mental Health Screen to non-operational as well as operational settings. This will enable commanders to nominate individuals or groups for periodic screening due to the high risk nature of their duties, including in nonoperational environments. The Government supports Defence in its development of the ADF Mental Health Screening Continuum in a manner that will optimise the early identification of mental health problems and provide all ADF members with a stepped approach to appropriate early intervention, better self-management and improved access to care at the earliest possible opportunity. Recommendation 2 The committee recommends that the Australian National Audit Office conduct an audit into the scope and accuracy of recordkeeping of relevant clinical information collected or recorded during deployment regarding mental ill-health or potentially traumatic incidents. Government Response Noted The Government will advise the Auditor-General to consider this recommendation. Recommendation 3