Hopefully, the title hooked you. Now what am I talking about? And who is “us”? The “what” is conversations about firearm safety and suicide prevention. The “who” is healthcare providers. Let’s take a few steps back…
While the condition of moral injury (MI) has been frequently studied in military populations, the impact of MI on military health care providers has been relatively overlooked in the research literature. This blog shares information from two recent publications, a narrative review and a qualitative study, that provide new information and insight into how MI is experienced by military providers. We also highlight information and select resources available for those experiencing or working with health care workers with MI.
Any parent would tell you the “why” questions start when we are young, usually around two- or three-years-old. The constant need to know the reason behind function, choices, and existence is inherent in us. We want to understand, and maybe if we can understand something, we feel more comfortable with it. The question of “why” helps us understand our surroundings, and this curiosity keeps us learning and growing.
Sleep isn’t just a personal health issue for service members; it’s a mission-critical factor that affects unit cohesion, operational performance, and overall force readiness. Yet for years, military culture sent a different message. Pushing through exhaustion was worn like a badge of honor, and phrases like “I’ll sleep when I’m dead” were all too common. Sleep deprivation was seen as a sign of toughness rather than a threat to mission success. Thankfully, the conversation is shifting.
Mental health stigma remains one of the most persistent barriers to care for service members. It operates at multiple levels—internally, socially, and institutionally—limiting help-seeking behavior and impacting readiness and relationships. This four-part fictional vignette follows a day in the life of a junior enlisted soldier. After each act, we explore how different forms of stigma shape the individual’s behavior, relationships, and access to care.