MORAL INJURY SUPPORT NETWORK FOR SERVICEWOMEN INC

MISNS (Moral Injury Support Network for Servicewomen, Inc.) is a non-profit organization dedicated to conducting research and educating care providers such as psychologists, social workers, public health practitioners, and military chaplains about moral injury. This female veteran’s organization also offers direct support through a network of female chaplains.

What is Moral Injury?
The term ‘moral injury in veterans’ refers to the profound impact of traumatic events that shake individuals to their core, violating their sense of right and wrong. Such injury can result from committing acts that feel wrong, witnessing horrific events, or experiencing trauma inflicted upon oneself.

Causes of Moral Injury in servicewomen
While some women have faced combat situations or served as drone pilots, a significant majority have suffered a moral injury due to their gender. Many servicewomen have survived military sexual trauma, enduring hazing, extreme disrespect, sexual harassment, and even rape. These courageous women joined the military-driven by their sense of duty and the belief that it was a high and honorable calling.

Despite their loyalty and love for the organization, they often hesitate to question or report the mistreatment they endure. The command climate has been and is hostile in some cases, and reports of military sexual trauma are frequently dismissed, with perpetrators sometimes being their teammates or commanding officers.

Effects of Moral Injury
The emotional burden of guilt and shame and the impact of moral injuries on individuals and families further exacerbates women’s suffering, leading to anxiety, depression, and sleeplessness. After a traumatic event with an element of moral wrong, women can enter a state of crisis:
• Cannot easily process the event
• Cannot fit it into their previous understanding of how the world is supposed to work
• May experience a sense of betrayal by someone or an institution who holds legitimate authority
• May feel guilt for perpetrating, failing to prevent, bearing witness to, or learning about acts that transgress deeply held moral beliefs and expectations

Transforming lives and transforming the future
MISNS envisions a future where servicewomen receive the support they deserve, and where moral injury is effectively recognized and addressed. The organization seeks to contribute to creating a military culture that promotes respect, equality, and inclusivity, ensuring the well-being of all its members. The organization is devoted to advocating for policy changes, conducting research, and providing counseling to help servicewomen heal and reclaim their lives. Our activities include:
1. Hosting the annual Women Veterans Military Moral Injury Conference that brings together researchers, therapists, and thought leaders in psychology, social work, chaplaincy, and other healthcare fields to share perspectives, research, assessment tools and therapies around moral injury.
2. Offering training programs for care givers like psychologists, social workers, medical doctors, military chain of command, chaplains, pastors, and others
3. Sponsoring and managing research into how women experience moral injury and into developing effective therapies
4. Running the Harriet Tubman Network of trained and certified professionals who can provide care to women suffering from moral injury