Experiences Of Moral Injury In UK Military Veterans
Combat Stress
Providing specialist clinical services for veterans with complex mental health issues related to their military service.
Moral injury is defined as ‘intense psychological distress which results from actions, or lack of actions, which clash with an individual’s moral or ethical code.’ Moral injury can happen during service when someone is following orders or specific rules. Moral injury is different to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); PTSD is a fear-based injury resulting from a traumatic experience, while moral injury is defined as something you did – or couldn’t do – that didn’t line up with your morals, or that you viewed as ethically wrong.
Research conducted by Combat Stress Centre for Applied Military Health Research and The King’s Centre for Military Health Research found that veterans who reported experiencing a morally injurious event were significantly more likely to meet the criteria for PTSD, depression and anxiety than those who hadn’t. Individuals suffering from moral injuries may find it difficult to speak with friends, family or clinicians about their symptoms due to feelings of guilt or shame.
At Combat Stress, we want every veteran to know they’re never alone, and that our team is here to listen and provide confidential advice and support. If you’re a veteran or a loved one, please call our free, 24-hour Helpline on 0800 138 1619 to speak with our team.
Please click here to read the full research study: https://assets.cshost01.uk/research-papers/2020/Experiences%20of%20moral%20injury%20in%20UK%20veterans.pdf
Having been in Ukraine for the last three years and now back in the UK my mind is slowly playing out the grief of losing fellow soldiers KIA, mission tempo was extremely hard and so grief was pushed aside for another time, I suffer from Insomnia and lack of direction now, I don't know where the memories will take me I don't feel upset or cry. I just feel disappointed
Mental Health Practitioner
1 个月having read this and watched an online presentation through the university of chester - it does present itself as a question we are practitioners need to be asking upon assessments - food for thought
Staff Officer at Royal Air Force (RAF)
1 个月A former boss recommended "Behold the Dark Gray Man" by Katherine Campbell that covers Moral Injury from the perspective of a daughter who grew up witnessing the toll of her father's battles with "...the enemy without and the enemy within...". I'll admit it is, at times, a difficult read; especially if you have experienced your own inner battles. I would still highly recommend it though as it's a genuinely excellent read (and thank you James Beldon MBE MPhil(Cantab) MA BSc CDir FRAeS FIoD, not just for expanding my home library, but for your own support while I was having my own struggles.)
Connecting the Armed Forces Community with Emerging Industries for a Regenerative Future | HHPUK Ambassador
1 个月Perhaps it is time for the steadfast adherents of traditional models to consider that healing moral injury may well reside in the unexplored territories of our shared human experience. Heroic Hearts Project UK are doing incredible work in this field. Thank you Combat Stress and Tony Wright for all you do.
We see it in healthcare too. That is one of the reasons why Sisters in Service was started - to provide support for female veterans who now work in healthcare and may be more vulnerable to moral injury, burnout and cumulative stress.