Saint Longinus at the Cross – A Veteran’s Story
Abstract Although other historical and Biblical figures prior to St Longinus have demonstrated many aspects of a Spiritual Wound and Injury (SW&I), Saint Longinus is worthy of specific consideration on several levels. To start with, with his seven simple words, ‘Truly this was the Son of God,’ he is the first person to publicly declare […]
Book Review of Spiritual Readiness: Essentials for Military Leaders and Chaplains
Spiritual Readiness: Essentials for Military Leaders and Chaplains by Harold G. Koenig, Lindsay B. Carey & Faten Al ZabenNew York. Amazon Books, 2022, ISBN: 9798840830093 (e-book). Reviewed by Darren Cronshaw Modern psychology and contemporary militaries now recognise what ancient religions and philosophies have […]
Cultivating Family Resiliency in the Context of the Military to Civilian Transition and Mental Health Problems
Introduction Relinquishing military employment has the potential to be a life transition laden with emotional, financial, relational and physical stressors for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) families.1-2 This article explores how intimate partners of CAF veterans who have operational service in Atlantic Canada and live with a mental health problem cultivate family resiliency during the military […]
Changes in Stigmatising Beliefs and Help-Seeking Intentions Following a Recreational Peer- Based Program for Young People Affected by Military Associated Parental Mental Illness
Abstract Children living in Defence families affected by parental mental illness face increased stressors, pressure for self-sufficiency and potential exposure to adverse outcomes, including future mental illness. Little is known about the impact of mental health early interventions on the help-seeking tendencies of military young people affected by parental mental illness. Similarly, the responsivity of […]
Understanding the Victimization of US Army Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans in US Public
Abstract Previous research suggests that public estimates of mental health problems in US veterans who returned from the deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan exceed actual concerns. The present project examines how sociodemographic factors may contribute to victimising perceptions of US Army Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans by conducting a free word-association task. A total of 245 […]
General and Specific Benefits from the ADF ARRTS Program
Abstract The present study was part of an evaluation of the Arts for Recovery, Resilience, Teamwork and Skills (ARRTS) program conducted by the Australian Defence Force (ADF) for wounded, injured and ill veterans as an adjunct to their established treatments. Two previous evaluations, one using categorical judgments and one using standardised rating scales, yielded evidence […]
Moral Injury Reconciliation: A Practitioner’s Guide for Treating Moral Injury, PTSD, Grief, and Military Sexual Trauma, by Dr Lewis Jeffery Lee
Review by Chaplain Darren Cronshaw *Dr Lewis Jeffery Lee, Moral Injury Reconciliation: A Practitioner’s Guide for Treating Moral Injury, PTSD, Grief, and Military Sexual Trauma through Spiritual Formation Strategies. London: Jessica Kingsley, 2018. ISBN. 9781785927577. Paperback. 223pp, AUD$47.73 Wars are a health hazard for those who fight in them—at physical but also psychological and unseen […]
Longitudinal Change Resulting from the ADF’s Arts for Recovery, Resilience, Teamwork and Skills (ARRTS) Program
T J Watt, E James Kehoe Abstract Arts-based activities are increasingly being offered to current and former military members as an adjunct to their established therapeutic interventions. Individuals who undertake arts-based activities have shown reductions in both anxiety and depressive symptoms. However, little is known about the specific mechanisms engaged by these activities or the […]
Guilt and It’s Relationship to Mental Illness and Suicide Attempts in an Australian Veteran Population with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
K Kerr, M Romaniuk, S McLeay, S Walker, J Henderson, A Khoo Abstract Background Australian veterans have an increased risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Guilt is a common post-trauma reaction; however, research in this area is limited. Purpose This study aimed to explore the relationship between guilt, PTSD severity, alcohol use, anger, history of […]
Health Promotion in the Australian Defence Force
N Westphalen Introduction This article follows previous papers by the author regarding occupational and environmental medicine in the ADF.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 These articles, as well as a recent Productivity Commission inquiry,9 indicate that high workplace illness and injury rates confirm the need to improve the management of hazards associated with ADF workplaces, with better emphasis on prevention. […]