Helping veterans get a good night’s sleep
A message from Mates4Mates
Australian veterans’ charity Mates4Mates is boosting support to serving and ex-serving Defence Force personnel, delivering an Online Sleep Program to raise awareness of the benefits of sleep health.
Sleep is our internal reset button, and for veterans sleep can ease psychological symptoms, stabilise mood, reduce chronic conditions, improve the ability to cope with pain, and assist with processing emotionally charged memories.
In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, it was found that as many as 89% of Australian service people and veterans suffer from reported sleep disturbances, compared to only 42% of members in the general public.
Mates4Mates Psychologist Jonathan Moscrop said the Mates4Mates Online Sleep Program helps veterans and families explore sleep from a physiological, psychological and practical perspective.
‘Sleep is a crucial component of mental and physical wellness,’ Mr Moscrop said. ‘Veterans are exposed to chronic stress during military service due to training, deployment and returning to civilian life, and this all can impact sleep.
‘Our Online Sleep Program aims to help participants develop healthier sleeping behaviours and positively impact their overall wellbeing.’
The program aims to teach veterans and family members skills and strategies for improved sleep, as well as explore and understand sleep from various perspectives.
Facilitated by Mates4Mates counsellors and social workers, the next Online Sleep Program will be delivered over a four-week period from 9 to 30 July. Expressions of interest are now open for registration in the program.
Mates4Mates offers a safe and supportive environment for veterans and family members to find health solutions. With exercise physiologists, psychologists, social workers and counsellors available in centre and via telehealth, there are multiple pathways to consider when treating your sleep health.
The Mates4Mates Online Sleep Program is sponsored by Sleepy’s, The Mattress Experts.
More than 11,000 veterans and families have directly benefited from Mates4Mates services since it was established in 2013, finding support and a pathway to recovery through mental health and physical rehabilitation services, skills and wellbeing programs, and social connection activities.
To find out more about Mates4Mates services, make the call that makes a difference on 1300 4 MATES (62 837) or visit our website.