Hi Ray,
Welcome to the forum!
What you are undertaking is amazing, and I'm sure your family and friends are very proud of your initiatives and achievements. I am very sorry to hear of your wife's illness and recent passing. I can't imagine how hard that would have been for you.
I am a 23 year old female, by the way. I don't have any close relatives who fought in a war. However, a family friend is a Vietnam War survivor. He has PTSD as well, and he seems to be open about his past too. I went to Vietnam in 2014 for a family trip, and learned a lot about the history (and especially the war). Tourists will never be able to have a full appreciation of the extent and breadth of the impact and suffering, but it was important that we learned what we could.
I hope you have or are receiving support for the PTSD and depression. I've had anxiety (OCD) for 10 years, and I've very recently started seeing a psychologist again for the first time in several years. I'm studying third year psychology at university, but an academic knowledge isn't necessarily enough to self-help. Sometimes it is, but I'm glad I've sought help during this period.
Reducing the stigma is a very important undertaking. I feel as though the stigma has been reduced most significantly for young people and parents (PND etc.), but needs to be furthered for older Australians. It is often harder for males to emotionally open up and ask for help, especially survivors of the war and of trauma. I really think you can make a difference too! There can be the misconception about who or what types of people suffer from mental health conditions. Being a strong, confident, wise man with business ability and community involvement and being open about the mental illness you experience may help some people to realise that anyone can be affected.
I wish you luck on your trip around Australia, and for your initiative to reduce the stigma of mental illness!
Best wishes,
SM
