Is there a connection between moral injury and suicide?

By: Robert Avsec, FSPA Operations Chief

The following was posted over on LinkedIn by my colleague, Alexandra Jabr, Ph.D., Paramedic, Public Speaker, CE Course Consultant:

🚨This study offers a groundbreaking insight for organizations committed to understanding and mitigating the risk of suicide.

Moral injury is independently associated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempt in high-stress, service-oriented occupations

“Moral injury is independently associated with suicidal ideation and suicide attempt in high-stress, service-oriented occupations (veterans, healthcare, and first responders).”

Those with moral injury were 6 times more likely to have attempted suicide at some point in their life: 40.5% of those who screened positive for moral injury endorsed having attempted suicide in their lifetime compared to 5.4% of those who screened negative.

These findings are even more eye-opening when you consider that they are occurring independently of PTSD and depression.

The greatest danger of moral injury is how often it goes unseen and unrecognized. And even when it is identified, shame can keep it hidden and prevent someone from accepting help.

Awareness of what moral injury is needs to increase, as does the education around it, so that it can be accurately identified in those who serve our communities.