Canadian Armed Forces Veterans’ Perspectives on the Effects of Exposure to Children in Armed Conflict During Military Service: Protocol for a Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background:The mental health of military personnel has garnered increased attention over the last few decades; however, the impacts of perpetuating, observing, or failing to prevent acts that transgress deeply held moral standards, referred to as moral injuries, are less understood, particularly in relation to encounters with children during deployment. This paper describes a multiphased research protocol which centres around the lived experiences of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Veterans to understand how encounters with children during military deployments impact the wellbeing and mental health of military personnel.Objective: This study has four objectives: (1) to center the lived experiences of CAF Veterans who encountered children during military deployments; (2) to improve understanding of the nature of experiences that military personnel faced that related to observing or engaging with children during military service; (3) to improve understanding of the mental health impacts of encountering children during military service; and (4) to employ Participatory Action Research (PAR) to develop recommendations for improving preparation, training and support for military personnel deployed to contexts where encounters with children are likely. Methods:The research project has two main phases. Phase I includes qualitative interviews with CAF Veterans who encountered children during military deployments. Phase II uses Participatory Action Research to actively engage Canadian Veterans with lived experiences of encountering children during military deployments, as well as health professionals and researchers, in identifying recommendations to better address the mental health effects of these encounters.Results: As of January 26, 55 participants and research partners have participated in the two phases of the research project. Sixteen ( 16) CAF Veterans participated in Phase I (Qualitative Interviews) and 39 CAF Veterans, health professionals, and researchers, participated in Phase II (Participatory Action Research). The results for Phase I have been finalized and are expected to be published in early 2024. Data collection and analysis is ongoing for Phase II.Conclusions: Prioritizing and valuing the experiences of CAF Veterans has deepened our understanding of the intricate nature and impacts of potentially morally injurious events involving children during military deployments. Together with health professionals and researchers, the PAR approach empowers CAF Veterans to articulate important recommendations for developing and improving training and mental health supports. This support is crucial not only during the deployment cycle, but also throughout the military career, helping lessen the effects of moral injury among military personnel. Clinical