1.4.D Beyond PTSD: Moral Injury Awareness & Implications Among Police Officers and Trauma Informed Interventions
Tracks
Concurrent Session D
| Thursday, May 21, 2026 |
| 3:15 PM - 3:40 PM |
| Room 4 |
Overview
Presenter: Dr Daniel Saugh
Speaker
Dr Daniel Saugh
Chair/professor Psychology Department
Burman University
Beyond PTSD: Moral Injury Awareness & Implications Among Police Officers and Trauma Informed Interventions
Abstract Document
This study investigates how moral injury may emerge from a potentially traumatic event(s) and/or psychological trauma and/or independent from such trauma. This abstract explores the critical research regarding Moral Injury (MI) awareness within the Toronto Police Service. While Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has long been the primary lens for understanding occupational stress in policing, this work highlights a distinct, deeper psychological and spiritual wound that arises from ethical rather than physical threats.
Moral injury is believed to exist within the Canadian Police
Services though it is difficult to recognize and is usually
ignored. The research data emerging from military and
first responders (i.e., police, firefighters, and EMS
personnel) reveal the effects of moral injury and its
implications for mental and spiritual health as it persists
throughout the life and career of those affected.
Policing is inherently a moral vocation, yet the psychological toll of "moral load" is frequently underestimated. This research addresses the gap between traditional mental health frameworks and the lived experiences of officers in the Toronto Police Service (TPS). Moral Injury is defined as the psychological, social, and spiritual distress resulting from actions—or the lack thereof—that transgress deeply held moral beliefs and expectations. Unlike PTSD, which is rooted in fear and the threat to physical safety, Moral Injury is rooted in shame, guilt, and a sense of betrayal.
The paramilitary structure of modern policing often prioritizes efficiency and legal compliance over the individual moral agency of the officer. Despite its prevalence, there is a significant lack of vocabulary and clinical awareness regarding MI, leading to misdiagnosis and ineffective treatment.
The research employed a qualitative and phenomenological approach, engaging with members of the Toronto Police to assess their understanding of MI. By utilizing interviews and spiritual health assessments, Saugh explored the intersection of professional identity and personal morality, focusing on how "betrayal-based" injuries differ from "transgression-based" injuries.
The study reveals that awareness of Moral Injury among Toronto Police remains underreported, despite high levels of reported symptoms. MI often manifests as social isolation, loss of faith in humanity, and a fractured sense of self. Furthermore, the research emphasizes that traditional clinical interventions often fail because they do not address the existential and spiritual dimensions of the wound.
The research concludes that "moral repair" requires a multi-disciplinary approach. Recommendations include integrating MI awareness into police training, fostering "ethical leadership" to mitigate organizational betrayal, and utilizing chaplains or spiritual care providers to facilitate rituals of reconciliation and forgiveness. By naming the "invisible wound," the Toronto Police Service can move toward a more holistic model of officer wellness that honors the moral integrity of those who serve.
Moral injury is believed to exist within the Canadian Police
Services though it is difficult to recognize and is usually
ignored. The research data emerging from military and
first responders (i.e., police, firefighters, and EMS
personnel) reveal the effects of moral injury and its
implications for mental and spiritual health as it persists
throughout the life and career of those affected.
Policing is inherently a moral vocation, yet the psychological toll of "moral load" is frequently underestimated. This research addresses the gap between traditional mental health frameworks and the lived experiences of officers in the Toronto Police Service (TPS). Moral Injury is defined as the psychological, social, and spiritual distress resulting from actions—or the lack thereof—that transgress deeply held moral beliefs and expectations. Unlike PTSD, which is rooted in fear and the threat to physical safety, Moral Injury is rooted in shame, guilt, and a sense of betrayal.
The paramilitary structure of modern policing often prioritizes efficiency and legal compliance over the individual moral agency of the officer. Despite its prevalence, there is a significant lack of vocabulary and clinical awareness regarding MI, leading to misdiagnosis and ineffective treatment.
The research employed a qualitative and phenomenological approach, engaging with members of the Toronto Police to assess their understanding of MI. By utilizing interviews and spiritual health assessments, Saugh explored the intersection of professional identity and personal morality, focusing on how "betrayal-based" injuries differ from "transgression-based" injuries.
The study reveals that awareness of Moral Injury among Toronto Police remains underreported, despite high levels of reported symptoms. MI often manifests as social isolation, loss of faith in humanity, and a fractured sense of self. Furthermore, the research emphasizes that traditional clinical interventions often fail because they do not address the existential and spiritual dimensions of the wound.
The research concludes that "moral repair" requires a multi-disciplinary approach. Recommendations include integrating MI awareness into police training, fostering "ethical leadership" to mitigate organizational betrayal, and utilizing chaplains or spiritual care providers to facilitate rituals of reconciliation and forgiveness. By naming the "invisible wound," the Toronto Police Service can move toward a more holistic model of officer wellness that honors the moral integrity of those who serve.
Biography
Dr Daniel Saugh, PhD, MPH, MSc, MDiv, has served in the Pastoral ministry for 20 years, and as a Military and Police Chaplain for over 10 years where he has integrated health and wholeness into his work. He has completed studies at York University in Toronto Canada, Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, USA, Loma Linda University, California, Wilfried Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario and further studies at Duke University and Harvard University respectively.
He currently serves as Chair of the Psychology Department and Assistant Professor at Burman University in the Faculty of Sciences. In addition, he is also the EDI director for the University.
As an academic psychologist and also as a registered psychotherapist he serves in a clinical capacity integrating whole person care with psychotherapeutic interventions. This includes being a lifestyle consultant with Paradise Health, a wholistic treatment centre, police chaplain in Canada, and clinical director of Mental Health. His research background includes trauma based research, lifestyle interventions, recovery, resilience, and human flourishing.
