A legal service funded by the federal government has fielded more than 1,200 calls in a year from veterans and their families who want to be heard by the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
Almost a quarter of the demand is coming from Queensland's veterans community with 341 calls taken by the Defence and Legal Service in February.
Likewise, 316 calls were made to the New South Wales service, 190 from Western Australia and 140 calls were made in Victoria.
Brisbane-based veteran SiuPing Wong is one of the hundreds currently preparing a written submission to the Royal Commission.
She is being helped by solicitor Kathryn Starkey who has provided Ms Wong's quotes to the ABC.
"I am speaking up because I don't want to see any more veteran suicides," Ms Wong said.
"I have experienced continual depression. Life is miserable for me now.
"Each day, I feel exhausted and in pain. I have struggled with thoughts of suicide most days."
Ms Wong was medically discharged from the Royal Australian Air Force after a training accident.
"I have suffered enormously," Ms Wong said.
"Physically, mentally and emotionally.
"The task of getting appropriate medical and psychological support has been confusing and frustrating.
"After my medical discharge, I was effectively left on my own to work out my future healthcare. I was not supported by the ADF."
A former trauma nurse, veteran Ms Starkey studied law after her own discharge from the military.
She is one of 20 solicitors travelling Australia to give free legal support to defence personnel, veterans and their families.
Ms Starkey said some have still been reluctant to come forward because their experiences were so harrowing.
"I've heard from friends, I've heard from siblings, I've heard from mothers who have lost loved ones to suicide," she said.
"I've heard stories from veterans who have attempted suicide."
Deadline looms
An April 28 deadline for private submission requests to the Royal Commission has prompted a surge in veterans wanting to tell their story, Ms Starkey says.
"They know that nothing is going to change for them because it's already occurred," she said.
"But they take great satisfaction and comfort out of being able to finally sit down with someone and have someone sit there and just listen to them."
Brandon Spain is among hundreds to be granted a private hearing with Commissioner Nick Kaldas.
His brother, Shaun Spain, took his own life on the Gold Coast in January after singling out the Department of Veterans' Affairs in his final letter.
The letter was shared with the ABC.
"I have taken my own life for many reasons, and DVA are mostly to blame," Shaun's note said.
Brandon said he wanted the commissioner to know why Shaun couldn't cope anymore.
But he was sceptical about whether or not anything would change.
"I truly hope it does make a difference, however the veterans I have spoken to feel its just a publicity stunt," Brandon said.
"Time will tell if it's just a publicity campaign and nothing actually gets achieved."
Interim recommendations
The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has received more than 3,000 submissions and has heard from 243 witnesses in public.
Royal commissioners Nick Kaldas, James Douglas and Peggy Brown gave 13 urgent recommendations in August last year, including eliminating a backlog of 41,799 claims with the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
Editor's note 22/03/23: The original version of this story stated the Defence and Legal Service had taken 1,200 calls a month from people seeking to have input into the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. The correct figure is 1,200 calls in a year.
