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'Defend Your Mental Health' is a campaign which encourages higher levels of peer and social support for Defence personnel across Australia.

Defence service asks a lot of people. It shapes how you work, how you think, and how you connect with the people around you. Deployments, relocations, out of hours duties, operational tempo, injury and transition - these are experiences that most Australians will never face, and they carry real weight for members, veterans and their families.

But Defence also builds something few other workforces can: genuine community. A sense of community and connection is one of the most powerful protective factors for mental health and wellbeing.

We need to break down the stigma that keep some people suffering in silence and make it clear: you do not have to walk that road alone. Sometimes the most important thing you can do is simply ask, R U OK? Not like a passing ship in the night - but stopping to ask like someone who genuinely wants to know the answer. Regular, honest conversations can make a real difference.

Our resources feature real stories from those who have served and provide practical tools to help you have a genuine R U OK? conversation with someone you're concerned about