Examples of how moral injury can happen for you:
- Acts of commission: When you do something that feels wrong or against your values. For instance, not pursuing an arrest in a domestic abuse case because of charging thresholds.
- Acts of omission: When you fail to act, even though you believe you should. For example, not reporting a colleague’s misconduct.
- Betrayal: When someone or some system you trusted fails you, like feeling let down by leadership or an institution during a critical investigation.
Moral Injury: Signs, Impact, and Support
Signs you might be experiencing Moral Injury
Moral injury isn’t a mental health diagnosis, but it can deeply affect how you feel and act. You might notice:
- Strong emotions: Feelings of guilt, shame, anger, or disgust that don’t easily fade.
- Loss of trust: Difficulty trusting others, your institution, or even yourself.
- Withdrawing from people: Pulling away from family, friends, or colleagues because you feel “unworthy” or “bad.”
- Spiritual or moral questioning: Rethinking beliefs or values that once guided you.
- Self-sabotage: Taking risks or avoiding opportunities because you feel you deserve punishment.
It’s also common for moral injury to appear alongside other challenges, such as PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), depression, anxiety, or thoughts of suicide.
Who might be affected
Moral injury can affect anyone in high-stakes roles, including those in policing. Research shows those involved in child protection work, for example, report moral injury alongside depression, anxiety, and reduced wellbeing, often linked to perceived betrayal by colleagues or institutions.
How You Can Seek Support
Support can come from specialist therapists, occupational health services, your peer support network, or from us. Reaching out isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a way to protect your wellbeing and regain a sense of balance, both on duty and off.
There are no official NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidelines specifically for moral injury yet, but evidence suggests that adapted trauma therapies that focus on moral repair and symptom management can be helpful.
These approaches aim to help you:
- Process the experience safely
- Process the moral conflict
- Manage emotional and physical symptoms
- Restore your sense of purpose and trust
