Elena Rowland vividly remembers the day she learned her friend and former colleague, Shannen Box, had died by suicide.
“I felt sick. I couldn’t believe it, it didn’t feel real,” she said.
Her 29-year-old friend — who had just bought a house and finished her apprenticeship, and was deeply loved — was gone.
“Nobody knew that she was fighting this internal war, which made it so shocking to everybody when she did die and caused a huge crack in the veteran community and to the people that knew her,” Ms Rowland said.
Shannen had an outstanding claim to have her service-related injuries recognised by the Department of Veterans Affairs at the time of her death. (Supplied)
The pair had met through the Australian Defence Force (ADF) in 2013, when they were posted to a unit at the Enoggera Barracks in Brisbane.
Ms Rowland remembers her as someone who was naturally good at everything. It was why she was admired by bosses, but her friends loved her for a different reason.
“One of the things that made her really special wasn’t what she did or how good she was at everything; it was more like her heart. She had a good heart,” she said.
“She had this beautiful smile; she had this natural aura around her that you could tell that she was really special.”Defence support services:The Defence all-hours Support Line is a confidential telephone and online service for ADF members and their families 1800 628 036Open Arms provides 24-hour free and confidential counselling and support for current and former ADF members and their families 1800 011 046Soldier On is a national support services provider for Defence personnel, contemporary veterans, and their families. Contact during office hours 1300 620 380
Shannen discharged from the ADF about five years ago; Ms Rowland believes she struggled with the transition.
“When you join the army, you get this compass, and it’s like your internal guide. It’s got your role, your tribe and your mission — so your job, your mates and your purpose,” Ms Rowland said.
“When you get out of the army, not only have you got trauma, you’ve got pain, you’ve lost your mission, you’ve lost your purpose in life, you’ve lost your tribe of mates.
“Those things were taken away from Shan and I don’t think she knew how to navigate it properly.”
Shannen Box, pictured with her mother, Ness. (Supplied)
At the time of her death, Shannen also had an outstanding claim to have her service-related injuries recognised by the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA); a process that many reported to the royal commission as lengthy, unfair and difficult to navigate.
Difficulty transitioning to civilian life was also an issue frequently raised during the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
Shannen discharged from the Australian Defence Force about five years ago. (Supplied)
Tuesday marks one year since its final report was handed down, but whether its findings and recommendations are helping curb the disproportionate rate of suicides amongst veterans and serving members is yet to be seen.
It takes two years for the data to be finalised.
But figures released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) revealed there has been a slight decrease in the latest reporting period.
Decline in deaths by suicide a ‘good sign’
Between 1997 and 2023, 1,840 serving and ex-serving ADF members died by suicide.
In the most recent reporting year, preliminary data suggests 73 occurred in 2023.
AIHW’s head of the defence and veterans’ insights unit Paul Pham said veterans faced higher rates of suicide than the Australian population.
“In terms of trends, what we’re observing is that the suicide rates for ex-serving males and females have seen a general modest decline in recent years from about the mid-2010,” he said.
Mr Pham said the decline was a “good sign” but said it was “difficult to say if an emerging trend is conclusive”.
AIHW has also released new set of analysis, commissioned by DVA, that examined the health service used in the year before an ex-serving ADF member had died by suicide.
ADF member feels like he has been ‘treated like a problem’ after DV attack
The reports focused on ex-serving ADF members who accessed a range of health services between July 2010 and June 2020.
It found 86 per cent of those ex-serving members who died by suicide had used health services in the year before their death — one-third of those had a mental health service as the last type of care used.
Veteran Brodie Moore, who was deployed to Afghanistan when he was 18 years old, said one death to suicide is one too many.
“We as a nation owe it to these people that are putting their hand up to serve the nation,” Mr Moore said.
Veteran and Medilinks chief executive Brodie Moore says one death to suicide is one too many. (ABC News: Sarah Richards)
He said he saw soldiers he served with face struggles and some “tragically died by suicide”.
It inspired him to start his own health services, Medilinks, for ex-service members.
Mr Moore said it was important that DVA encouraged mental health providers to work with veterans so there could be more military cultural competence in the mental health space.
If you or anyone you know needs help:Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467Lifeline on 13 11 14Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support line 13YARNÂ on 13 92 76Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636Headspace on 1800 650 890ReachOut at au.reachout.comMensLine Australia on 1300 789 978QLife 1800 184 527
A DVA spokesperson said the findings from the research would help inform future policy and programs.
“The government is committed to addressing the ongoing impact of service, including preventing future deaths by suicide and providing opportunities for healing,” the spokesperson said.
“Every suicide is a tragedy, and the loss of a current or former Australian Defence Force member is deeply felt by the entire Defence and veteran community.”
Last week, Veterans’ Affairs Minister Matt Keogh provided a progress update on the royal commission in federal parliament.
He also launched the Defence and Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025-2030, which aims to support the defence and veteran community during service or employment, during transition to civilian life and beyond.
Elena Rowland believes Shannen Box struggled with the transition out of the ADF. (Supplied)
RSL Queensland deputy chief executive of veteran services Troy Watson said it was “encouraging” to see a priority placed on defence and veteran health and wellbeing in the federal government’s update.
He said the milestone also marked a difficult time for veterans and their families as they “contemplate the change that still needs to occur”.
Mr Watson said it was important those who are struggling reach out for help.
Call for national day of recognition
In dealing with the grief of losing her friend, Ms Rowland realised those impacted by suicide were falling through the cracks when it came to support.
She established The Flannel Project, a registered charity, in Shannen’s honour. She named the charity after Shannen’s dog Flannel, and the flannel flower; the national symbol for mental health awareness.
Elena Rowland established The Flannel Project in Shannen’s honour. (ABC News: Michael Lloyd)
The Flannel Project aims to support those impacted by veteran suicide
Ms Rowland is calling for the establishment of a national day — the Flannel Flower Day — to officially remember and commemorate veterans and service members who have died by suicide.
“We want to give survivors of suicide somewhere to put their grief, to honour those who have died from the war within,” Ms Rowland said.
She wants to hold the day on June 21, the winter solstice.
“We love symbols in the army so that represents going from darkness into light,” she said.
“We can’t let service and sacrifice end in silence and suicide.”