Salutogenesis and Mental Health Promotion in Military Settings

Abstract

This chapter centers on salutogenic work in military settings in the context of mental health promotion. The author opens with a personal account of how he found himself engaging in salutogenic research within a military setting, and touches upon some moral questions that this research arena brings up. The author then describes negative consequences of military service, as a background for discussing some salutogenically oriented programs intended to enhance mental fitness of soldiers, accompanied by empirical research findings. Finally, the author suggests some insights and recommendations for further applications of salutogenesis in military settings.