AMA President speaks to PTSD charity on the importance of mental health

AMA President Professor Steve Robson gave a presentation this week to the Fearless organisation, a charity which works with people living with the consequences of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Professor Robson joined Chairman Admiral Chris Barrie AC (Ret’d) and Fearless Board Member David Templeman AM to discuss his own experiences.

Ahead of the event Professor Robson told Fearless “I am determined to use my own example of silence to point out that mental health problems are nothing to be ashamed of. Today, I am not ashamed of how I felt or what I did 30 years ago. I am ashamed and disappointed in myself that I have not used my position to advocate more strongly for colleagues in difficult emotional circumstances.”

Professor Robson spoke of his family’s and his own experiences in the armed services, as well as his experiences as a doctor, and the importance in speaking up — and speaking to others — about mental health.

Professor Robson said since becoming President of the AMA, “I’ve made it my business to say that we need to treat mental health as we do any other illness. It is not something to be ashamed of or embarrassed about or not to seek help for. And similarly, to my colleagues, if you think somebody around you is not well, suffering, then you need to help and reach out”.

The full event recording is available to watch here.