International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies

The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) strongly condemns all acts of hate-based violence and terrorism such as the horrific mass violence perpetrated against innocent victims in two Mosques in New Zealand, and sends a deeply felt message of compassion to all of the affected families, members of the Muslim community, and the nation.
 

There has been a growing interest in traumatic events that may violate people’s core moral beliefs. While not exclusively a military-related issue, some service members and veterans attribute chronic and pervasive problems to potentially morally injurious deployment-related experiences such as injuring or killing enemy combatants or failing to prevent the suffering of fellow service members or civilians.

The challenges for many soldiers returning from war go beyond the potential for PTSD, moral injury, traumatic bereavement and a range of associated risks from increased rates of suicide to a host of physical illnesses.