The Australia Day Aussie, Aussie, Aussie roars have died out. Speeches have been forgotten. The rain has washed away the downfall from the fireworks and the blue flags have been scrubbed of the children’s cheeks. Anders Pedersen and Jonas Løvschall-Wedel take a look at those who have sacrificed the most for Australia – The diggers, their families and the darkness that haunts them.

The media and politicians in Australia are all on full alert, when a soldier returns swept in the Southern Cross. But what about the many soldiers who return as broken men and waste away their lives as forgotten heroes losing the battle to addictions and mental sufferings as PTSD and depression. What about the families who sent their sons, fathers and husband to war, only to find that the person they sent out is not the one who returned.

This week Reportage Online uncovers the reality about the mental health of Australian war veterans, their families, and what the government does to support them.

Day one… The expert

Day two… The family

Day three… The myth