Abstract: The analysis presented in this report pertains to the third Cobseo Members survey, undertaken in May 2021, which builds on evidence from the May and October 2020 Members’ surveys. The results presented in this report provide a comparison between results obtained over all three surveys to help chart the evolving impact of the pandemic on Cobseo Members as they continue to serve beneficiaries under challenging circumstances.As noted in the first Members’ survey of May 2020, qualitative responses combined with figures appear to show a notable difference between Members who are delivering front-line services, compared with organisations who are not direct service delivery organisations. While only 18% of all respondents reported a risk of beneficiary need/ numbers being unmanageable within one-year, there is clearly increased demand for mental health and wellbeing services, which require front-line delivery and continued cash-flow to support. This area has the potential to see further increase in need as the pandemic continues to bear on individual’s mental wellbeing. Additionally, those unable to access stretched services now, may present later with more complex and compounded needs, further stretching services. DSC recommends close monitoring of the current situation with Members providing frontline services, particularly for mental health and wellbeing, to develop a detailed understanding of funding and service delivery challenges with which to inform policy efforts.
Abstract: Background: Exposure to potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) during military service can lead to moral injury (MI) outcomes and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). This longitudinal study examined the relationships between PMIE exposure, MI outcomes, and PTSS among Israeli combat veterans, and the potential protective role of dispositional forgiveness in these associations. Method: Participants were 169 Israeli combat veterans who participated in a six-year longitudinal study with four measurement points (T1: 12 months before enlistment, T2: Six months following enlistment- pre-deployment, T3: 18 months following enlistment- post-deployment, and T4: 28 months following discharge). Participants’ characteristics were assessed via semi-structured interviews (T1) and validated self-report measures (T2-T4) between 2019-2024. Results: Approximately 36% of participants reported exposure to PMIEs during service, with 13% exceeding the clinical threshold for probable PTSD at T4. PMIE-Betrayal at T3 was positively associated with MI outcomes of shame and trust violation at T4. The indirect effect of PMIEs on PTSS through MI outcome-Shame depended on forgiveness levels. Among veterans with low forgiveness, higher exposure to PMIE-Betrayal was associated with increased MI shame, which was linked to more severe PTSS. Conversely, for those with high forgiveness, exposure to PMIE-Self and Other was associated with decreased MI shame and subsequently reduced PTSS. Conclusion: Dispositional forgiveness moderates the relationship between PMIE exposure and MI outcomes, particularly shame, which mediates the development of PTSS. These findings highlight forgiveness as a potential target for intervention in treating moral injury and preventing PTSS among combat veterans.