If Australia isn't prepared to put up the resources to help mentally damaged servicemen and women, then perhaps they should not be sent off to war in the first place.
That's the stark message from former national serviceman, former Victorian premier and mental health advocate Jeff Kennett, delivered to an audience including the governor-general, prime minister, opposition leader and defence chiefs.
In his commemorative address to the national Remembrance Day service at the Australian War Memorial, the chairman of beyondblue said without the proper support, many veterans sadly took their own lives.
Just this year, more serving personnel and veterans have died by their own hand than the 41 who died in 13 years of involvement in Afghanistan.
"I ask myself why this grateful nation lets down so many servicemen and women who on surviving the threats and brutality of conflict and war take their own lives on returning home," he said.
Mr Kennett said mental health issues and alcohol abuse were on the rise, particularly among young veterans.
"If Australia cannot find the resources to provide the care necessary to help those servicemen and women, then perhaps we should not put their lives at risk in the first place," he said.
The ceremony, which attracted a crowd estimated at 3700, marked 98 years since the guns fell silent across the Western Front of France and Belgium, ending WWI.
Unlike Anzac Day, Remembrance Day is an international event, with similar ceremonies conducted around the world, as well as across Australia.
For the War Memorial, Remembrance Day 2016 was the 75th anniversary of its official opening in 1941.
That was a year into WWII but just on a month before it came much closer to home with Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor and invasion of Malaya.
War Memorial director Brendan Nelson said further commemorations were ahead next year, especially the centenary of the 1917 battle of Passchendaele in the Flanders region of Belgium.
In that battle, Australian casualties reached 40,000 in four months with 6000 dead in October.
For that centenary, early next year construction will start on the Flanders Memorial Garden, built of portland stone with soil retrieved from the battlefields and cemeteries where Australians fought and died.
It will be inscribed with the words of the poem "In Flanders Fields" by Canadian John McCrae.
"In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row."
Veterans Affairs Minister Dan Tehan said this year's budget allowed any defence member who had deployed for just one day access to uncapped treatment for PTSD, depression, anxiety and substance abuse.
"We are looking to do all we can in this area. Sure we have got to do more," he told reporters.
"If we all seek to make sure that we let everyone know that there is help and support there, the better we will be able to tackle this problem."
Mr Tehan said the suicide rate for serving personnel was less than in the general community. But the incidence of suicide among veterans isn't clear.
He said new data from a study of veteran suicide will be released soon.
Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.
MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78.
