How Socio-cultural Contexts Can Inform Models for Addressing Moral Injury: Two Examples.
| Thursday, May 21, 2026 |
| 1:40 PM - 2:00 PM |
Speaker
Mr Dan Johnson
Rehabilitation Advisor
Veterans' Affairs, NZ
How Socio-cultural Contexts Can Inform Models for Addressing Moral Injury: Two Examples.
Abstract Document
Title: How socio-cultural contexts can inform models for addressing moral injury: two examples
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Key Learnings Themes: Moral Injury, Culture, Mental Health
Learning Objectives
This presentation aims to inform participants of the following learnings:
* Review predominant definitions of moral injury and contrast with PTSD
* Discover why culture should inform models for addressing moral injury
* Compare and contrast two culturally-informed models for attending moral injury
* Learn about indigenous approaches to healing / forgiveness
Summary
Moral injury is increasingly recognized as an important concept and framework for understanding and responding to veteran mental health. A growing literature confirms its association with critical mental health priorities, including suicide. This workshop will provide an overview of moral injury in order to then explore why and how socio-cultural contexts can inform pathways for veteran recovery from moral injury. We will offer and contrast two specific models – one drawing on an indigenous Maori perspective, the other based on U.S. social and cultural dynamics. Themes of forgiveness and of social responsibility will be emphasized.
Participants will have the opportunity to observe and experience some of the existing elements and rituals drawn from the models the workshop will feature. The presentation will include opportunities for considering how cultural dynamics associated with participants’ social environment can inform their own efforts to engage moral injury.
.
Key Learnings Themes: Moral Injury, Culture, Mental Health
Learning Objectives
This presentation aims to inform participants of the following learnings:
* Review predominant definitions of moral injury and contrast with PTSD
* Discover why culture should inform models for addressing moral injury
* Compare and contrast two culturally-informed models for attending moral injury
* Learn about indigenous approaches to healing / forgiveness
Summary
Moral injury is increasingly recognized as an important concept and framework for understanding and responding to veteran mental health. A growing literature confirms its association with critical mental health priorities, including suicide. This workshop will provide an overview of moral injury in order to then explore why and how socio-cultural contexts can inform pathways for veteran recovery from moral injury. We will offer and contrast two specific models – one drawing on an indigenous Maori perspective, the other based on U.S. social and cultural dynamics. Themes of forgiveness and of social responsibility will be emphasized.
Participants will have the opportunity to observe and experience some of the existing elements and rituals drawn from the models the workshop will feature. The presentation will include opportunities for considering how cultural dynamics associated with participants’ social environment can inform their own efforts to engage moral injury.
Biography
This collective of authors hail from three different continents and first came together in New Zealand during Dr Yeomans' Fulbright Specialist Program visit in 2023. Clinical Psychologist, Dr Yeomans and NZ Veterans' Affairs Rehabilitation Advisor, Dan Johnson, began their shared mission of developing a greater awareness of Moral Injury, across the veteran support landscape, in Aotearoa. Raharuhi Koia, was keen to join the fellowship and was already working with Veterans Affairs in his capacity as a trained Counsellor and former padre of the New Zealand Defence Force, supporting veterans with their emotional and spiritual well-being.
The trio's passion for veterans and Moral Injury continued to develop and culminated in the delivery of a 90-Minute workshop at CIMVHR 2024, (Canadian Institute of Military, Veteran Health & Research), on this very topic.
All three presenters bring a wealth of knowledge, particularly in the military and veteran space, in addition to their own individual professional achievements, experiences and training. The three very different personalities bring a unique presentation experience which includes the exploration of the U.S socio-cultural contextualization of the military and Aotearoa Indigenous practices as part of a healing & recovery focus from morally injurious events and experiences.
