One key thing that our research into PTSD has found is that soldiers are far less likely to experience it when they understand what it is they’re doing and why they’re doing it. This means both at the large scale operational level, and the small scale tactical level.
“You’re holding this trench so that our sister company can safely withdraw” is a lot more motivating than “You’re holding this trench because orders are orders.”
And yeah, at the operational level, the people fighting a war want to believe that it has a purpose. That they’re doing good. That their suffering will make other people’s lives better.
Hard to believe that when you’re mostly just murdering innocent civilians.
What do you think? Every country has this problem if and when a war ‘persists’.
Russian Soldiers Confront PTSD, Alcoholism and Suicidal Thoughts After Fighting in Ukraine
The battle Russia has not yet fought: The mental health of its war veterans
And, not to forget, there are also victims:
Ukraine: Mental Health Crisis Intensifies for Children
There are -unfortunately- many reports on that across literally all wars.
One key thing that our research into PTSD has found is that soldiers are far less likely to experience it when they understand what it is they’re doing and why they’re doing it. This means both at the large scale operational level, and the small scale tactical level.
“You’re holding this trench so that our sister company can safely withdraw” is a lot more motivating than “You’re holding this trench because orders are orders.”
And yeah, at the operational level, the people fighting a war want to believe that it has a purpose. That they’re doing good. That their suffering will make other people’s lives better.
Hard to believe that when you’re mostly just murdering innocent civilians.