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ALEXANDRIA, Va. (July 25, 2017) - Volunteers
of America, a national leader in providing supportive services
to the nation?s most vulnerable people, has partnered with the
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation to better understand and treat
the effects of 'moral injury' suffered by American veterans and
others who have experienced
life-changing trauma.
In
support of this effort, the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation
recently invested almost
$1 million to help Volunteers of America establish the 'Spiritual
Resilience Training Program,' part of a growing variety of
recovery services provided by the organization to combat moral
injury.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs defines moral injury as
a syndrome of shame, self-handicapping, anger and
demoralization? resulting from experiences that challenge deeply
held beliefs and expectations about moral and ethical conduct.
Experiences include such acts as killing, perpetration of
violence, betrayals of trust in leaders, witnessing depraved
behavior, or failing to prevent serious unethical acts. While
moral injury often is observed in veterans returning from
combat, it can affect anyone who has endured extreme trauma,
including crime victims and caregivers for the sick or dying.
"Unlike
post-traumatic stress, moral injury is not a fear-based
disorder," said Rita N. Brock, Ph.D., who leads Volunteers of
America's moral injury efforts. "Its social and behavioral
impact reflects an inner struggle to integrate experiences that
challenge personal interpretations of right and wrong, and
manifests with unique negative moral emotions such as guilt,
shame, despair, grief, remorse, alienation, betrayal,
self-condemnation and outrage against leaders or oneself."
Volunteers of America's Spiritual Resiliency Training Program is
designed to support recovery from moral injury via a
peer-facilitated, multi dimensional group process. The program
focuses on confronting moral suffering, exploring forgiveness
and gratitude, restoring faith and purpose to life, increasing
self-acceptance and awareness of each person's core humanity,
and civic engagement through public service. The SRT program
will help strengthen the resiliency of veteran participants and
lower indicators of moral injury distress such as suicidal
thoughts, substance abuse and homelessness. By reducing
isolation through establishing trusted relationships among
veterans, the program will help participants sustain long-term
recovery and reintegrate more successfully into civilian life.
"We
strongly believe in the importance of treating the unseen wounds
that affect our servicemen and women and may impede their
reintegration into society," said John Damonti, president of the
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation. "By addressing moral injury
through community-based programs, we hope to strengthen the
resiliency of our veterans so they many continue to lead healthy
and productive lives."
Following the start of SRT program planning and design work in
March 2017, the effort will be piloted by Volunteers of America
affiliates in Los Angeles and New York, which already offer a
myriad of services to veterans and their families that address
homelessness, unemployment, lack of education, traumatic brain
injury, substance abuse and mental health challenges.
To
learn more about moral injury and Volunteers of America's vision
for serving veterans and others struggling with this condition,
please visit www.voa.org/videos/rita-brock-discusses-moral-injury-soul-repair.
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About Volunteers of America
Volunteers of America is a national, nonprofit, faith-based
organization dedicated to helping those in need live healthy,
safe and productive lives. Since 1896, our ministry of service
has supported and empowered America's most vulnerable groups,
including veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, at-risk
youth, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals
and families, those recovering from addictions and many others.
Through hundreds of human service programs, including housing
and health care, Volunteers of America helps more than 1.4
million people in over 400 communities. We offer a variety of
services for older Americans, in particular, that allow them to
maintain their independence and quality of life ? everything
from an occasional helping hand to full-time care. Our work
touches the mind, body, heart and ultimately the spirit of those
we serve, integrating our deep compassion with highly effective
programs and services. For more information about Volunteers of
America, visit www.VolunteersofAmerica.org.
About the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation
The
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation is committed to improving the
health outcomes of populations disproportionately affected by
serious diseases by strengthening healthcare worker capacity,
integrating medical care and community-based supportive
services, and addressing unmet medical need. The Foundation
engages partners to develop, execute, evaluate and promote
innovative programs to help patients with lung cancer and
removing barriers to accessing care in the United States, HIV
and comorbid diseases such as cervical and breast cancers and
tuberculosis in sub-Saharan Africa, hepatitis B and C in China
and India, and veterans? mental health and well-being in the
U.S. For more information about the Bristol-Myers Squibb
Foundation, visit BMS.com/Foundation. |