Blog posts with the tag "Staff Perspective"

Staff perspective: Moral Distress and Moral Injury - How Prevalent Are They in U.S. Veterans?

By Paula Domenici  on 27.08.2025 12:00 pm

Moral injury remains a murky concept, despite the growing body of literature on this important topic. While there’s not a consensus on exactly what moral injury is, Phelps et al. (2024) describe it as enduring psychological, social, and spiritual distress that can occur when individuals are exposed to high-pressure situations that violate or clash with their deeply-held moral beliefs or values. Moral injury may stem from one’s own actions or inactions, the actions of others, or a perceived betrayal by trusted leaders or institutions. In military contexts, including those with complex rules of engagement, moral injury may occur after engaging in or witnessing acts that conflict with one’s sense of right and wrong, such as causing harm to civilians, being unable to prevent the loss of life, seeing human suffering, or feeling deeply misled by command.

Staff Perspective: The Lingering Why

By Kristyn Heins  on 20.08.2025 10:35 am
Dr. Kristyn Heins

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.

Staff Perspective: Sleep is for the Strong - Empowering Service Members Through Shared Decision Making

By Jaime Rodden  on 13.08.2025 11:52 am

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.

Staff Perspective: Sleep Isn’t Optional, It’s Operational

By Jaime Rodden  on 06.08.2025 9:45 am
Jaime Rodden

Most of us have struggled with getting enough sleep at some point, but when you compare sleep habits between civilians and service members, the difference is striking. While about a third of the general population reports not getting the recommended seven hours of sleep per night, the number jumps to more than 85% among service members.

Staff Perspective: Through SPC Jones’ Eyes - How Stigma Disrupts Mental Health Support for Service Members

By Adria Williams  on 30.07.2025 10:02 am
Dr. Adria Williams

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.

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