Photo: Teaching Ukrainian psychologists, researchers, and military chaplains. Refugium Smidstrup Strand, Denmark, 2026.
Lecture: Moral Injury – The Overlooked Trauma
Many people are familiar with moral distress. Far fewer know about moral injury – a profound form of psychological suffering that can arise when deeply held moral values collide with reality.
Moral injury can occur when we act against, witness, or are exposed to events that violate our deepest moral convictions and sense of what is right. Although moral injury is not currently a clinical diagnosis, it can have serious consequences for identity, wellbeing, and mental health.
In this lecture, I introduce the concept of moral injury – one of the fastest-growing fields of international research – and explore how it affects people in ethically demanding professions as well as in everyday life.
Drawing on my book The Inner War: Moral Injury in Working Life, I present current research, practical experience, and perspectives on how moral injury can be prevented and healed.
- How does moral injury develop?
- How can it be prevented?
- How can people find their way forward when the damage has already occurred?
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Director, Centre for Faith, Loss and Trauma
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Ordained pastor and author
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Certified Master Facilitator in Biblical Trauma Healing (the THI Method)
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International experience from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia
Participants will gain:
- An understanding of what moral injury is and how it differs from PTSD.
- A language for recognising and addressing the ethical burdens that arise in professional and everyday life.
- Perspectives on prevention, healing, and the restoration of hope and meaning.
This lecture is particularly relevant for everyone who works with people, including leaders, healthcare professionals, educators, clergy, emergency responders, humanitarian workers, and organisational staff.
Testimonial
"I have followed Synne Garff's pioneering work on Moral Injury. Greater awareness of this form of trauma is urgently needed, both in workplaces and in society at large. Synne Garff communicates this important subject with clarity, passion, and outstanding professional insight."
Anne Marie Worning
Danish physician and former Chief of Cabinet at the World Health Organization (WHO)
This lecture is based in part on The Inner War: Moral Injury in Working Life, the first Danish non-fiction book devoted to moral injury.
Selected engagements
I deliver keynote lectures, workshops, seminars, and training programmes on moral injury for churches, universities, healthcare organisations, NGOs, public institutions, and private companies.
- NORDEFCO – Nordic Veterans' Conference
- National Nursing Conference, Koldinghus
- Seminar on Moral Injury in collaboration with the Danish National Centre for Church Education and Knowledge (FUV), Vartov
Practical information
Duration: 60–90 minutes
- Includes time for questions and discussion
- Tailored to the audience and event
- Suitable for organisations, businesses, educational institutions, healthcare services, churches, and public authorities