Addressing moral injury in practice: suggestions for organisational, political and societal interventions

Background: Moral injury has garnered increasing attention in recent decades, extending from the military to professions like healthcare and policing. Defined as psychological, social and spiritual suffering resulting from moral transgressions, moral injury is now recognised as a multidimensional phenomenon. A growing body of empirical and theoretical research is establishing a foundational understanding of its psychological, moral and contextual dimensions. Their findings underscore the need to broaden the understanding of moral injuries sustained in the workplace, as well as work-related mental health more generally, by incorporating ethics- and context-informed approaches. This applies to both research and practice. However, the actual practical implications of their findings remain unexplored.