For anyone interested in learning more about moral injury, this book provides some very good information in three sections. The first part covers three research projects that were presented at the moral injury conference hosted by Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen's Inc. (MISNS, pronounced "Missions") in June of 2021. First, Roberts and Kovacich offers preliminary data from their research that focused on the moral injurious experiences of women veterans. While the data are preliminary, the stories are compelling and provide a glimpse into the tragic experiences of some military women. The second chapter, by Korshak, Thomas, and Burlazzi, details a study that "explored how experiencing morally injurious events during military service may impact mental health symptoms, and/or engagement in healthy lifestyle behaviours (e.g. healthy food choices, regular physical activity) in post-9/11 Veterans." Using a mixed methods design, the research found significant correlations between moral injurious experiences and health outcomes. What follows next is a chapter on post-traumatic embitterment disorder (PTED) through the eyes of research conducted with health and social professionals in the U.K. Closely related to moral injury, Brennan and Cole describe PTED "as a reaction to negative life-events that are perceived as unjust or experiences of betrayal which result in chronic feelings of bitterness and anger."
The second part of the book consists of edited transcripts from two episodes of Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen Inc.'s bi-weekly podcast episodes. In the first chapter, Roberts and Ricks discuss the moral injury implications of America's recent exodus from the Afghanistan campaign, a war that lasted over 20 years. Then, Jessica Greenbaum describes a poetic process for helping people recover from trauma. Jessica explains how one does not need to be schooled in fine arts or be a gifted artist to induce post-traumatic growth through poetry.
This book concludes with two chapters that describe moral injury interventions. DiNatale details her research study that explored "how military veterans heal from moral injury from a cultural psychological perspective." The key to this healing is through "moral injury-moral repair dialectical relationships." Finally, Ross and Civiletto Stenger provide important information on mental health and substance use disorder in veterans, access to care, and Tactical Recovery, a program created because very few addiction and mental health centers are genuinely qualified in understanding and treating veterans.
As the title suggests, this is the first volume of a series of books. The next volume will be published in 2023. As is the case with this publication, the next volume will include the latest in moral injury research and help for struggling veterans. We will continue to advance the moral injury field through this book, our conferences, continuing education courses, and weekend events. Go to https: //chaplainconsultants.com to see the latest information, research, products, event schedules, and other publications.
