Soldier walks for PTSD support

In a bid to combat the stigma of post-traumatic stress disorder, a former infantry solider in Afghanistan is embarking on a journey to walk for two years with his dog to raise awareness about the issue which has led fellow servicemen to take their lives.

Disembarking from the Rockingham RSL on Sunday morning, Royce Hardman will walk Highway 1 and sleep in his swag with his blue American staffy in the hopes of raising $250,000 for Solider On, an organisation which supports Australian servicemen and women who have been physically or psychologically wounded in contemporary conflicts.

The desire to help others occurred to Mr Hardman late last year when he found himself at the point of suicide.

"Everything was too much and I was really lonely, but then Trigger came in and looked at me in the eye, he knew what was going on - he means the world to me," he said.

"If he wasn't around I probably wouldn't be here today."

Mr Hardman developed PTSD and associated nightmares as a result of a four-month stint in Afghanistan's Oruzgan province in 2009, when he spent weeks at a time on patrol, living out of military vehicles and experiencing roadside bombs.

"I remember a rocket flying just over my head and I grazed my leg on the trip wire of an improvised explosive device," he said.

When on leave, Mr Hardman said there "was no real support" and found himself in an alcoholic downward spiral.

"People said they were worried about me, but I was in denial until I got to the point where I was getting into trouble with the law.

"There is help out there but it is extremely hard to get."

He said the system needed improving because servicemen kept their mental health issues quiet to protect their career.

"I've met plenty of guys who have been booted out the army for PTSD - and most guys are pretty bitter about that because they've lost what they wanted to do with the rest of their life," Mr Hardman said.

Pushing a cart which carries about two weeks worth of food and one of water, a swag, onboard dog bed, two-way radio and GPS tracking device, Mr Hardman is walking for military and emergency response personnel, but also victims of crime and accidents, in a bid to initiate a national discussion about PTSD.

"I want people to talk about it instead of ignore it," he said.

Follow Trigger's Big Trek on Facebook.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend the send-off party and breakfast from 9am at the Rockingham RSL.

If you are depressed or suicidal, or know someone who is, call Lifeline on 13 11 44 or beyondblue 1300 224 636.