|PIC1|If not treated and dealt with sensitively, this feeling can devastate sufferers psychologically, preventing them from returning to 'normal' life after the catastrophic event, and sometimes leading them to question their own survival.
Well-Being Australia chairman Mark Tronson reflects further, based only on 'gut feeling' that the military padres in World War II would have regularly dealt with these inner demons, for what we now refer to as 'survivor's guilt'.
"The very nature of war-time military campaigns whether it be on land, sea or air, the military chaplains conducted the funerals and would have had close contact with the survivors, the mates of those who had lost their lives," M V Tronson further reflected.
Military chaplains have played an unspoken role of 'sacred comfort' associated with 'death and the irrecoverable' in all conflicts.
Similarly he surmises with community Chaplains, such as those associated with the Police, Emergency Services, Fire Fighting and the local clergy, when pastoring survivors of car accidents, work place deaths and similar situations.
The Victorian bush fires is a more recent example where this syndrome, 'Survivor Guilt', may well be engaged. Likewise, road accidents where the driver of a motor vehicle in particular, possibly where a family member was killed, is a candidate for this condition.
"My question therefore, relates to whether there is any research of Chaplain's / Clergy ministries with survivor's guilt," M V Tronson asks. "I would welcome any information on this."
Survivor Guilt
It has only been over the past five decades that a syndrome called 'Survivor Guilt' has been diagnosed, when some people who have survived a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, a car accident or a military battle, perceive themselves as feeling guilty because they survived when close friends and family members did not.
If not treated and dealt with sensitively, this feeling can devastate sufferers psychologically, preventing them from returning to 'normal' life after the catastrophic event, and sometimes leading them to question their own survival.
Well-Being Australia chairman Mark Tronson reflects further, based only on 'gut feeling' that the military padres in World War II would have regularly dealt with these inner demons, for what we now refer to as 'survivor's guilt'.
"The very nature of war-time military campaigns whether it be on land, sea or air, the military chaplains conducted the funerals and would have had close contact with the survivors, the mates of those who had lost their lives," M V Tronson further reflected.
Military chaplains have played an unspoken role of 'sacred comfort' associated with 'death and the irrecoverable' in all conflicts.
Similarly he surmises with community Chaplains, such as those associated with the Police, Emergency Services, Fire Fighting and the local clergy, when pastoring survivors of car accidents, work place deaths and similar situations.
The Victorian bush fires is a more recent example where this syndrome, 'Survivor Guilt', may well be engaged. Likewise, road accidents where the driver of a motor vehicle in particular, possibly where a family member was killed, is a candidate for this condition.
"My question therefore, relates to whether there is any research of Chaplain's / Clergy ministries with survivor's guilt," M V Tronson asks. "I would welcome any information on this."
mark@markt.id.au