Moral Injury
Moral injury is described the distress and shame that comes from doing, being part of, witnessing, or failing to prevent something that goes against your morals. It's different from the fear and threat response of PTSD - though the two can occur together.
Where PTSD is rooted in danger, moral injury is rooted in meaning. It's the weight of guilt, shame or betrayal. The sense that something is fundamentally broken - in yourself, in others, or in the systems you were part of.
Who is affected
Research in Moral injury is still young and developing, thought it’s thought to be particularly common among:
Veterans and current members of the Australian Defence Force
Police officers
Firefighters, paramedics and other emergency services personnel
Healthcare workers
People who have caused accidental death or serious harm
What it can look like
Persistent guilt or shame about specific events or decisions
A sense of being fundamentally changed or no longer the same person
Anger - at yourself, others, or organisations
Loss of meaning, purpose or previously held beliefs
Existential questions and confusion
Withdrawal from relationships and things that used to matter
Self-destructive behaviour
These experiences often sit alongside - but aren't fully explained by - a diagnosis of PTSD, depression or anxiety.
Accidental Death
People who have caused accidental death or injury - through a vehicle accident, a workplace incident, or any other unforeseen event - often experience moral injury. The grief is complicated by guilt, and there are rarely clear frameworks or spaces for processing it. We have a specific interest in supporting people in this situation.
Why standard trauma treatment isn’t always enough
Moral injury doesn't always respond to trauma treatment designed for PTSD. Approaches that focus primarily on fear don't always reach the guilt, shame and questions of meaning at the centre of moral injury. The research is still emerging on Moral Injury treatment, though early indications suggest that approaches that address these dimensions directly tends to be more helpful.
Funding options
Medicare (Mental Health Care Plan from your GP)
Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA)
WorkCover / Motor Accident Scheme / SIRA
Private health insurance
Private (self-funded)
Sessions are available in person at Meadows Medical Centre, Mullumbimby, or via Telehealth.