Statement of Principles concerning suicide and attempted suicide (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 39 of 2025)

Statement of Principles concerning suicide and attempted suicide (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 39 of 2025)

made under subsection 196B(2) of the

Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986

Compilation No. 1  

Compilation date:   22 September 2025

Includes amendments: Amendment Statement of Principles concerning suicide and attempted suicide (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 77 of 2025) (F2025L01053)

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Statement of Principles concerning suicide and attempted suicide (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 39 of 2025) that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 22 September 2025.

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.

Uncommenced amendments

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the Register for the compiled law.

Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments

If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.

Modifications

If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the Register for the compiled law.

Self‑repealing provisions

If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.

Contents

1 Name

2 Commencement

3 Authority

4 Repeal

5 Application

6 Definitions

7 Kind of injury, disease or death to which this Statement of Principles relates

8 Basis for determining the factors

9 Factors that must exist

10 Relationship to service

11 Factors referring to an injury or disease covered by another Statement of Principles

Schedule 1 - Dictionary

1 Definitions

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

1.                Name

This is the Statement of Principles concerning suicide and attempted suicide (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 39 of 2025).

1.                Commencement

This instrument commences on 19 May 2025.

1.                Authority

This instrument is made under subsection 196B(2) of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.

1.                Repeal

The Statement of Principles concerning suicide and attempted suicide (Reasonable Hypothesis) (No. 65 of 2016) (Federal Register of Legislation No. F2016L01145) made under subsections 196B(2) and (8) of the VEA is repealed.

1.                Application

This instrument applies to a claim to which section 120A of the VEA or section 338 of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 applies.

1.                Definitions

The terms defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary have the meaning given when used in this instrument.

1.                Kind of injury, disease or death to which this Statement of Principles relates
   1.           This Statement of Principles is about suicide and attempted suicide and death from suicide and attempted suicide.

Meaning of suicide and attempted suicide

1.           For the purposes of this Statement of Principles:
   1.           suicide means the act of intentionally killing oneself; and
   2.           attempted suicide means an attempt to intentionally kill oneself, but which has a non-fatal outcome.

Death from suicide and attempted suicide

1.           For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, suicide and attempted suicide, in relation to a person, includes death from a terminal event or condition that was contributed to by the person's suicide and attempted suicide.

Note: terminal event is defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.

1.                Basis for determining the factors

The Repatriation Medical Authority is of the view that there is sound medical‑scientific evidence that indicates that suicide and attempted suicide and death from suicide and attempted suicide can be related to relevant service rendered by veterans, members of Peacekeeping Forces, or members of the Forces under the VEA, or members under the MRCA.

Note: MRCA, relevant service and VEA are defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.

1.                Factors that must exist

At least one of the following factors must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting suicide and attempted suicide or death from suicide and attempted suicide with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

1.           being a prisoner of war before clinical onset;
2.           having one of the following clinically significant disorders of mental health at the time of clinical onset:
   1.           acute stress disorder;
   2.           adjustment disorder;
   3.           alcohol use disorder;
   4.           anxiety disorder;
   5.           attention hyperactivity disorder;
   6.            bipolar disorder;
   7.           body dysmorphic disorder;
   8.           brief psychotic disorder;
   9.             conduct disorder;
   10.             depressive disorder;
   11.           eating disorder;
   12.             gender dysphoria;
   13.         obsessive-compulsive disorder;
   14.           oppositional defiant disorder;
   15.           panic disorder;
   16.           personality disorder;
   17.           phobic anxiety;
   18.            posttraumatic stress disorder;
   19.            schizoaffective disorder;
   20.             schizophrenia;
   21.           substance/medication-induced anxiety disorder;
   22.           substance/medication-induced psychotic disorder;
   23.         substance use disorder.

Note: clinically significant disorder of mental health is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

1.           experiencing a category 1A stressor before clinical onset;

Note: category 1A stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary. 

1.           experiencing a category 1B stressor before clinical onset;

Note: category 1B stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

1.           having a person with whom one has a close family bond or a close personal relationship experience a category 1A stressor within the 2 years before clinical onset;

Note: category 1A stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

1.           experiencing the death of a person with whom one has a close family bond or a close personal relationship, within the 5 years before clinical onset;
2.           experiencing the death of a parent within the 25 years before clinical onset, where the person was aged 18 years or younger at the time of the parent's death;
3.           experiencing the attempted suicide of a parent within the 25 years before clinical onset, where the person was aged 18 years or younger at the time of the parent's attempted suicide;
4.           experiencing the suicide of an individual of a similar age, with whom the person has a personal association such as a classmate, within the 5 years before clinical onset, where the person was aged 18 years or younger at the time of the associate’s suicide;
5.       experiencing the death of a sibling due to suicide within the 15 years before clinical onset;
6.       experiencing a category 2 stressor within the 10 years before clinical onset;

Note 1: A category 2 stressor can arise in a variety of circumstances connected with service. Such circumstances can arise during the course of service, as a result of separation from service and the conditions associated with that separation, and in the transition to civilian life in the years following separation.

Note 2: category 2 stressor is defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.

1.       being a perpetrator of bullying within the 5 years before clinical onset;
2.       having experienced as a child (under the age of 18) one of the following;
   1.           serious physical, emotional, or sexual harm;
   2.           neglect involving a serious failure to provide the necessities for health, physical and emotional development, or wellbeing by adults with obligations to provide such necessities;

before clinical onset;

1.       performing a self-injurious act, within the 10 years before clinical onset;

Note: Self-injurious acts may include cutting, burning, hitting or poisoning.  The injury is done independently, without the aid of another person, and is severe enough for tissue damage (such as scarring) to result. 

1.       having a medical illness or injury which has resulted in a severe level of disability at the time of clinical onset;

Note: A person with a severe level of disability may need help with some or all activities of daily living (communication, mobility and self-care).

1.       having epilepsy at the time of clinical onset;
2.       having persistent pain, which is severe enough to interfere with daily living, for at least the 3 months before clinical onset;
3.       having failed an academic examination or other academic assessment within the 30 days before clinical onset;
4.       for persons 25 years of age and younger only, commencing a course of antidepressant therapy, or increasing or reducing the dose of antidepressant therapy, within the 8 weeks before clinical onset;
5.       taking any of the following medications within the 14 days before clinical onset;
   1.           angiotensin-receptor antagonists;
   2.           antiepileptics;
   3.           antipsychotics;
   4.           atomoxetine;
   5.           benzodiazepines;
   6.            beta-blockers;
   7.           bupropion;
   8.           clofazimine;
   9.             corticosteroids, other than topical steroids;
   10.             interferons;
   11.           isotretinoin;
   12.             montelukast;
   13.         opioid analgesics;
   14.           raltegravir;
   15.           varenicline;
   16.           zolpidem;
   17.           zopiclone.
6.       taking mefloquine or chloroquine within the 6 months before clinical onset;
7.       taking methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) or 4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxy-N-(2-methoxybenzyl)-phenylethylamine (25I-NBOMe) within the 12 hours before clinical onset;
8.       having a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury before clinical onset;
9.       having a concussion within the 5 years before clinical onset;
10.       undergoing bariatric surgery within the 10 years before clinical onset;

Note: Examples of bariatric surgery include gastrojejunostomy, gastric stapling, vertical banded gastroplasty or gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y anastomosis.

1.       anticipating an imminent and permanent relocation, or the process of relocation, to a residential aged care facility at the time of clinical onset;
2.       experiencing a potentially morally injurious event within the 10 years before clinical onset;

Note: potentially morally injurious event is defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.

1.       experiencing intimate partner violence within the 1 year before clinical onset;

Note: intimate partner violence is defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.

1.       inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for suicide and attempted suicide before clinical worsening.

1.            Relationship to service
   1.           The existence in a person of any factor referred to in section 9, must be related to the relevant service rendered by the person.
   2.           The factor set out in subsection 9(29) applies only to material contribution to, or aggravation of,suicide and attempted suicide where the person's suicide and attempted suicide was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person's relevant service.
2.            Factors referring to an injury or disease covered by another Statement of Principles

In this Statement of Principles:

1.           if a factor referred to in section 9 applies in relation to a person; and
2.           that factor refers to an injury or disease in respect of which a Statement of Principles has been determined under subsection 196B(2) of the VEA;

then the factors in that Statement of Principles apply in accordance with the terms of that Statement of Principles as in force from time to time.

Schedule 1 - Dictionary  

Note: See Section 6

1               Definitions

In this instrument:

category 1A stressor means one of the following severe traumatic events:

(a)          experiencing a life-threatening event;

(b)          being subject to a serious physical attack, or assault including rape or sexual molestation;

(c)          being threatened with a weapon, being held captive, being kidnapped, or being tortured.

category 1B stressor means one of the following severe traumatic events:

(a)          killing or maiming a person;

(b)          being a witness to a person being killed or critically injured;

(c)          being a witness to atrocities inflicted on another person;

(d)          witnessing human remains or a critically injured casualty excluding seeing a closed body bag or viewing a body in an open-casket.

Note: witness is defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.

category 2 stressor means one of the following negative life events, the effects of which are chronic in nature and cause the person to feel on-going distress, concern or worry:

(a)          being a full-time caregiver to a family member or a person with whom one has a close family bond or a close personal relationship with a severe physical, mental or developmental disability;

(b)          being socially isolated and unable to maintain friendships or family relationships, due to physical location, language barriers, disability, or medical or psychiatric illness;

(c)          experiencing adverse prejudicial differential treatment or unequal access to opportunities based on membership to a particular sociocultural group (racism);

(d)          experiencing a problem with a long-term relationship including the break-up of a close personal relationship, the need for marital or relationship counselling, marital separation, or divorce;

(e)          having concerns in the work environment including on-going disharmony with fellow work colleagues, perceived lack of social support within the work environment, perceived lack of control over tasks performed and stressful workloads, or experiencing bullying in the workplace or school environment;

(f)           experiencing prejudice or discrimination based on gender, or behaviour or attitudes that foster stereotyped social roles based on gender (sexism);

(g)          experiencing serious legal issues including being detained or held in custody, on-going involvement with the police concerning violations of the law, or court appearances associated with personal legal problems;

(h)          having severe financial hardship including loss of employment, long periods of unemployment, foreclosure on a property or bankruptcy;

(i)            having a family member or a person with whom one has a close family bond or a close personal relationship experience a major deterioration in their health.

clinically significant disorder of mental health means a disorder of mental health which is of sufficient severity to warrant ongoing management.

Note: To warrant ongoing management does not require that any actual management was received or given for the condition.

intimate partner means a person who is or has been in an intimate relationship with another person.

intimate partner violence means behaviour within an intimate relationship perpetrated by an intimate partner that causes or has the capacity to cause physical, sexual, economic or psychological harm. Examples include, but are not limited to:

1.           violence;
2.           threats;
3.           harmful behaviours or threats of harmful behaviours directed towards a child, animal or another adult;
4.           neglect where there is a relationship of dependence;
5.           coercion;
6.            stalking;
7.           humiliation;
8.           restriction of access to education, employment or medical care; or
9.             isolation from family, friends or colleagues.

Note 1: intimate relationship is defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.

Note 2: intimate partner is defined in the Schedule 1 – Dictionary.

intimate relationship means a relationship that involves emotional and/or physical closeness and interdependence between people. Purely commercial relationships are excluded from this definition.

MRCA means the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004.

potentially morally injurious event means an event that transgresses a person’s deeply held moral beliefs and expectations.

relevant service means:

(a)          operational service under the VEA;

(b)          peacekeeping service under the VEA;

(c)          hazardous service under the VEA;

(d)          British nuclear test defence service under the VEA;

(e)          warlike service under the MRCA; or

(f)           non-warlike service under the MRCA.

Note: MRCA and VEA are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

suicide and attempted suicide—see subsection 7(2).

terminal event means the proximate or ultimate cause of death and includes the following:

(a)           pneumonia;

(b)           respiratory failure;

(c)           cardiac arrest;

(d)           circulatory failure; or

(e)           cessation of brain function.

VEA means the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.

witness means a person who experiences an incident at the time it occurs and can give direct evidence of it. This excludes persons exposed only to public broadcasting or mass media coverage of the incident.

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.

The following endnotes are included in every compilation:

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

Abbreviation key—Endnote 2

The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.

Legislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4

Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.

The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.

The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.

Misdescribed amendments

A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe how an amendment is to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, then the misdescribed amendment can be incorporated through an editorial change made under section 15V of the Legislation Act 2003.

If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the amendment is not incorporated and “(md not incorp)” is added to the amendment history.

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history