Australian veterans more likely to die by suicide than in service over the period of the Afghanistan war

Lee Sarich was disappointed with the treatment he received after being discharged from the army. (ABC RN: Sophie Kesteven)

When Lee Sarich joined the army in 2002, at the age of 25, it was after what he describes as "a call to serve". He wanted to do something with greater purpose than the odd jobs he'd been working.

He would emerge from army service a changed person.