MASK: Living in the Fracture: Institutional Injury and the Cost of Belonging

by John J Whelan PhD

233 pages, Paperback

Published October 24, 2025

Reviews

[Scott Clancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Whelan has delivered a clinical and veteran based analysis that resonates deeply with me as a veteran. His thesis on "Institutional Injury" and the impacts of identity attachment are not merely important for those that have complicated trauma like PTSD, Moral Injury or Sanctuary Injury. They are insights that all veterans and veteran related institutions would be well served to understand. The direct relation to first responders, especially Law Enforcement, is undeniable. If you work, and especially if you are a leader in the military of Law Enforcement, this is a book for you. I saw pieces of myself in almost every example, and I saw lessons I wish I had have known in leading within the CAF, in every chapter.