The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) awarded Drs. Falon Smith, PhD and Maihan Vu, DrPH, MPH a one-year grant to conduct a qualitative study to better understand moral injury, how it affects Veterans’ health, and inform research and treatment. The study is in support of the congressionally mandated project Understanding Moral Injury and Planning for Care in Veterans Health Administration. Dr. Smith, Director of Research Dissemination of the Community Health & Wellness Resource Team, will serve as principal investigator and is Dr. Vu, Director of Formative Research and Director of the Qualitative Research Unit at HPDP, will serve a co-investigator for this project.
Moral injury is increasingly recognized as a significant psychosocial and spiritual concern among Veterans, drawing growing attention from both researchers and practitioners due to its profound impact on psychological well-being and its association with complex mental health conditions.
This study will occur over two phases. Phase 1 will assess the current landscape of moral injury research and care practices through focus groups with researchers and practitioners. Focus groups will explore how moral injury is conceptualized, defined, assessed, and treated to gain a broad understanding of factors influencing this area. Phase 2 of the project will explore Veterans’ lived experiences to better understand their awareness of moral injury, the factors shaping their experiences, its impact on their health, and their views on treatment needs.
Results will provide a comprehensive understanding of moral injury from both research and practitioner perspectives, as well as firsthand accounts from Veterans. By integrating these insights, the study seeks to inform future research directions and enhance mental health services for Veterans experiencing moral injury.
The research study will be implemented in collaboration with VA Integrative Mental Health, which is overseeing a multifaceted, mixed methods approach in support of the congressional mandate (H.R. 6411 Section 506a) for moral injury research to better understand post-9/11 Veteran mental health needs and develop clinical care best practices.
“As a member of a military family, I am deeply committed to conducting research that enhances the well-being of the veteran community,” said Dr. Smith. “I am honored to lead this qualitative study in collaboration with VA Integrative Mental Health, exploring the field of moral injury research and practice to drive meaningful change for those who have served.”
Falon Smith, PhD, MS, is the Director of Research Dissemination of the Community Health & Wellness Resource Team and Director of Go NAPSACC.
Maihan Vu, DrPH, MPH is an Adjunct Assistant professor at the Gillings School of Global Public Health’s Department of Health Behavior and a Qualitative Research Specialist at the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Vu is the Director of Formative Research and the Qualitative Research Unit at the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention.
This story is adapted from the original press release from CHWR.