Recognizing the urgent need to better understand and address this challenge, the Human Flourishing Program at IQSS, under the direction of Dr. Tyler VanderWeele, launched a global initiative to advance research and equip leaders across healthcare, military, and first responder sectors with tools to identify moral injury and promote healing.

To confront the growing prevalence of moral injury, HFH worked closely with members of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) to integrate “moral problems” into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR). This historic update, approved by the APA and published in the September 2025 annual update, expands the existing category of “Religious or Spiritual Problem” to “Moral, Religious, or Spiritual Problem.” “This recognition not only provides us with the framework to understand moral struggles, it enables us to chart a roadmap for healing that can make a lasting impact on our world,” said Dr. Jonathan Sherin, who is leading efforts to establish a Moral Injury Center at the VA in Los Angeles.

‍

Photo by Beatriz Pérez Moya on Unsplash