Although the following description of survivor’s guilt is focused on individuals who have served in the military, the condition is not exclusive to military service and can affect anyone who is a survivor of a life event in which another dies or is severely injured.
When a service member dies or is severely wounded, his or her fellow soldiers may experience “survivor’s guilt,” particularly if the death or injury is traumatic and/or occurs under traumatic circumstances. A service member may also experience survivor’s guilt in a situation where they have been sent home while the other members of their unit are still deployed (U.S. Department of Defense / Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and
Traumatic Brain Injury, 2009).
When a service member dies or is severely wounded, his or her fellow soldiers may experience “survivor’s guilt,” particularly if the death or injury is traumatic and/or occurs under traumatic circumstances. A service member may also experience survivor’s guilt in a situation where they have been sent home while the other members of their unit are still deployed (U.S. Department of Defense / Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and
Traumatic Brain Injury, 2009).