The number of women who "serve in the active duty military," according to the Office Of The Under Secretary of Defense For Personnel & Readiness.
Despite interest by behavioral health providers, there has been a historical scarcity of research and information on how LGBTQ service members experience healthcare in the military. With an increased focus on the challenges faced by diverse members of the military, that is beginning to change. This blog provides an overview of several recent (2022) publications examining research on healthcare experiences of LGBTQ service members and recommendations for better supporting them.
I want to take a moment to discuss one of the biggest joys of being a military psychologist, the clients. To do this, I will answer a question I’m periodically asked:
What do you like about working with military members?
A complete answer would take much more time and space than I have here, but I can summarize it in five major categories.
Depending on your worldview, you may either struggle with the theory of Racial Battle Fatigue or be keenly aware of it. However, if you are a mental health practitioner, researcher, or advocate, then your profession almost certainly mandates not only your awareness of both mental health trends and scholarly research, but the implementation of evidenced-based interventions, despite personal convictions that may arise.
As we have looked at the concept of moral injury we have predominantly looked at it as a condition of the individual. However, every disorder exists within a social context. In this entry, I’d like to examine the role of American society in moral injury. Previously, I had discussed the treatment options that have evolved. These methods focus on the service members developing some form of peace with what had happened in a variety of ways. What I am hoping to examine is the aspects of our culture and society that may contribute to the burden that our service members bear in the prosecution of a war or conflict.