Vice Admiral Ray Griggs says while the nation's soldiers are undoubtedly warriors, the term comes with traditional baggage.
The vice chief of the Australian Defence Force says viewing the nation's soldiers as "warriors" poses problems when looked at from a mental health perspective.
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In a speech for World Mental Health Day, Vice Admiral Ray Griggs says while the nation's soldiers are undoubtedly warriors, the term comes with traditional baggage.
"Particularly the tough male stereotype that it evokes," the former navy chief said.
"Some (people) have not unreasonably laid some of our cultural problems at the feet of the warrior ethos."
He said the organisation previously prioritised getting servicemen and women through an operational moment, rather than focusing on what might happen to their mental health after the event.
"Our own national warrior mythology and the inherent toughness that it is built on, plays its part in this and complicates how we viewed mental health issues," he said.
He says one of the ADF's new priorities was to de-stigmatise issues surrounding mental health.
He added that when people were identified for deployment they now underwent a range of mental health training specific to the deployed environment.
This included psychology briefs and programs which aimed to enhance individuals' strategies for coping with increased stress and potential adversity.
Copyright AAP 2014.
