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Moral injury storybook teaches 'coping strategies'

Dad's Moral Injury Cloud A page taken from the book Dad's Moral Injury Cloud. It shows a cartoon drawing of a dad reading a yellow bedtime stories book to his daughter, who is sitting in an orange armchair behind him. Above him there is a black cloud with an angry face and lightening bolts coming from it.Dad's Moral Injury Cloud
The free storybook is designed to help families dealing with moral injury

The author of a storybook written to help families cope together after traumatising events says she hopes it will teach people "coping strategies".

Dad's Moral Injury Cloud has been co-written by Dr Vicki Williamson, a senior lecturer in the University of Bath's department of psychology, for families affected by moral injury.

This is the psychological distress that occurs when a person commits, fails to prevent or witnesses an act that goes against their moral beliefs.

Dr Williamson said: "The thing we know about families where a parent has experienced trauma is that it's really difficult for parents to know what to say and how to speak to their children about it."

University of Bath A black and white picture of Dr Williamson standing at a podium in front of a seated audience, giving a presentation on moral injury. The screen beside her shows a soldier in a camouflage uniform and helmet, looking over a crowd of children and civilians. University of Bath
Dr Williamson said symptoms manifest as "really intense guilt, shame, anger, disgust and worthlessness"

She said the free book is the "first resource" for families affected by moral injury.

According to Dr Williamson, about 70% of the population will experience a "traumatic or really difficult event" in their life time.

But less than 5% will be diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the "same is true for moral injury".

"It's used to describe this very intense distress you can experience after an event that goes against your core values," she said.

"This may be experienced by people in the armed forces, police, prison service, healthcare or many other occupations that confront challenging situations."

Dad's Moral Injury Cloud A page taken from the book Dad's Moral Injury Cloud. It shows a very faint lilac-grey background, and cartoon figures gathered underneath a dark cloud which is raining over them. Dad's Moral Injury Cloud
Dr Williamson said research reveals moral injury can "really impact the family"

She said moral injury "typically occurs" either because of something you have done, you failed to do, or because of a betrayal by someone possibly in a position of authority.

A vet putting down a healthy animal which is unable to race any more is one example of moral injury, she added.

Dr Williamson said parents can often feel a "lot of shame and a lot of guilt" around moral injury, and may withdraw from the people they love.

"They can struggle with anger, and controlling outbursts and they might be really worried about their children - they do overprotective parenting behaviour," she said.

"Our book provides a framework to talk about challenging experiences, difficult feelings and strategies so families can cope together."

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