Moral Distress in Firefighting with Dr. Rita Brock

Understanding Moral Injury, also known as Moral Distress and Administrative Betrayal, with Dr. Rita Brock.

In this episode of Beneath the Helmet, host Arjuna George interviews Dr. Rita Brock, the director of Volunteers America's Shea Moral Injury Institute. Dr. Brock explains the concepts of moral injury, moral distress, and administrative betrayal, particularly within fire services, healthcare, first responder agencies, and the military. She shares her personal journey and extensive professional experience in addressing these issues. The episode provides valuable insights and resources for recognizing and recovering from moral injury, emphasizing the importance of community and peer support. Tune in for an in-depth discussion on the emotional and spiritual challenges those in demanding service roles face.

Administrative betrayal is the act of deliberate disloyalty and occurs when leadership fails to protect their member(s) during a time of vulnerability, therefore, inducing harm by neglect to react in a way that meets the basic needs of the first responder.

New, FREE, Online Program is Helping First Responders

Developed by Dr. Rita Brock and Volunteers of America (VOA), “VOA|ReST 4 First Responders” is an online source that offers a virtual place for First Responders to speak openly and honestly with peers about the challenges and impact of their work.

The Resilience Strength Training (ReST) Program aids fire, police, EMTs, ER staff and veterans through an online support service helping them process distress they may have experienced while working in their field. The program helps workers build and maintain resilience and remain committed to their work.

This distress or “moral injury,” can be feelings of guilt, shame, remorse, numbness, detachment, difficulty forming connections, self destructive behavior, self-harm and more that people feel in response to events that happened in their field of work.

Left unaddressed, it can contribute to depression, anxiety, post tramatic stress, or even suicide. ReST is an important program in helping to move forward and build resistance.

Of the participants that have already taken advance of the free VOA | ReST program, 82% report feeling significantly calmer and more peaceful after a meeting and 91% also are likely or highly likely to recommend others to use this program.


We want more people to feel good, thus we need to get the word out about this program!

#moralinjury #Administrativebetrayal #firefighterpodcast

00:00 video1254992844
00:05 Meet Dr. Rita Brock
00:11 Understanding Moral Injury
01:09 Introduction to Beneath the Helmet
01:51 Closing Remarks and Gratitude
02:00 Dr. Brock's Personal Journey
03:38 The Concept of Moral Injury
09:31 Developing Programs for Moral Injury
12:08 Impact of Moral Injury on First Responders
21:14 Signs and Symptoms of Moral Injury
26:04 Moral Injury vs. PTSD
32:47 The Role of Religious Communities in Mental Health
33:14 Blurred Lines Between Clinicians and Chaplains
33:57 Moral Injury in the Medical Field
34:18 Therapists and Peer Support
35:30 Spirituality vs. Religion
35:45 Buddhism and Spiritual Practices
36:55 Indigenous Healing Practices
41:28 Administrative Betrayal and Moral Injury
44:40 Addressing Moral Injury in the Fire Service
48:33 Resources for Understanding Moral Injury
54:20 Connecting with Dr. Brock
56:28 The Importance of Sleep for Wellness

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