Psychological hardiness and meaning making as protection against sequelae in veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
MacDermott, D.
International Journal of Emergency Mental Health 12(3): 199-206
2010
ISSN/ISBN: 1522-4821 PMID: 21473370 Document Number: 647687
Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are at an increased risk of suicide and other serious psychological sequelae following deployment. Mental health professionals must seek to detect and understand the presence of risk and resilience factors in this vulnerable population so that early intervention and treatment can prevent long-term suffering and suicide. This article explores both psychological hardiness and finding meaning in trauma as factors that can reduce the risk of pathology. Particularly when deployment-related stressors are high, these protective processes may be crucial in fostering hope and resilience. A traumatized individual may interact with the meaning-making process in one of three ways: searching for and finding meaning in the trauma, searching for and never finding meaning in the trauma, and never searching for meaning. These three styles may have a direct effect on a veteran's sense of hope or hopelessness, which likely will strongly influence suicidal tendencies and mental health.