The Invisible Injured
Psychological Trauma in the Canadian Military from the First World War to Afghanistan
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Canadian soldiers returning home have always been changed by war and peacekeeping, frequently in harmful but unseen ways. The Invisible Injured explores the Canadian military's continuous battle with psychological trauma from 1914 to 2014 to show that while public understanding and sympathy toward affected soldiers has increased, myths and stigmas have remained. Whether diagnosed with shell shock, battle exhaustion, or post-traumatic stress disorder, Canadian troops were at the mercy of a military culture that promoted stoic and manly behaviour while shunning weakness and vulnerability. Those who admitted to mental difficulties were often ostracized, released from the military, and denied a pension. Through interviews with veterans and close examination of accounts and records on the First World War, the Second World War, and post-Cold War peacekeeping missions, Adam Montgomery outlines the intimate links between the military, psychiatrists, politicians, and the Canadian public. He demonstrates that Canadians' views of trauma developed alongside the nation's changing role on the international stage - from warrior nation to peacekeeper. While Canadians took pride in their military's accomplishments around the globe, soldiers who came back haunted by their experiences were often ignored. Utilizing a wide range of historical sources and a frank approach, The Invisible Injured is the first book-length history of trauma in the Canadian military over the past century. It is a timely and provocative study that points to past mistakes and outlines new ideas of courage and determination.
Medical / History
History / Military / Canada
Psychology / Psychopathology / Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
About this Author
Adam Montgomery is an independent scholar and freelance writer specializing in military and medical history.
Reviews
"This subject matter, combined with Montgomery's clear and compelling writing style, will undoubtedly be of interest to a broad audience including scholars and students in history, soldiers, veterans, their families, and the public." Canadian Journal of History
"In The Invisible Injured Adam Montgomery gives a convincing account of how Canadian soldiers' psychological problems were framed and shaped not only by what they did and what they witnessed in wartime or peace missions, but by societal, economic, political and non-violent military circumstances as well. A must-read for all those interested in the fascinating subject of war's influence on the human psyche, and it certainly is a must-read for all those professionally involved." Medicine, Conflict and Survival
"...a timely book that provides new insight into the war of the mind. Montgomery has offered a key text for future studies in the field as scholars, medical practitioners, serving military personnel, and veterans come to grips with the invisible wounds suffered in times of war, peacekeeping, peacemaking, and active military operations." Tim Cook, American Historical Review
"From the opening chapter of The Invisible Injured, Adam Montgomery draws you in on a journey that has never (and I mean never) before been undertaken, certainly not in a Canadian context. Montgomery is a gifted writer who wields myriad academic details and facts in a manner that informs and yet is enormously entertaining. In short, his book is a highly enjoyable read. There is much here of value for the solider, politician and historian alike. If you are interested in the service at all, you will enjoy this book immensely. If you are part of the military family, this book is an absolute must read." Colonel John Conrad, author of Among the Walking Wounded: Soldiers, Survival, and PTSD
"Montgomery carefully illustrates how the Canadian public's perception of the military (and, to a certain degree, the public's perception of itself, or of our national identity) evolved in a kind of lockstep with what our troops were doing overseas at a given time, and what kind of burdens they were coming home with." The Globe and Mail
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