Page 113 - JSOM Winter 2024

FIGURE Age-adjusted mortality rates per 100,000 for United States drug and alcohol, homicide, maternal, and suicide mortality.
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and isolation combined with a decrease in spiritual faith and Saving lives through the defense of our nation and its people
family formation. Maladaptive coping through the misuse and is a communal effort and a societal priority, and as such, it can
abuse of drugs and alcohol continues to increase. Many are and should create a cultural and strategic opportunity for unity
also experiencing disillusionment and the perception of dimin- and cohesion. An end-state and side effect of cohesion is an in-
ished opportunity to pursue prosperity through hard work and crease in social capital and a reduction in the negative health
merit-based achievement. The trends depicted by these health effects of stress on individuals and society as a whole. Individ-
and social development indicators may reflect a greater socie- uals benefit as connections, community, and expanded social
tal breakdown also characterized by frequent mis- and disin- networks build social capital, supplant isolation, and provide a
formation and a lack of trust in institutions and professions framework for support. Society benefits by supporting its gen-
previously held in high regard. In addition to government and eral population and military forces and by strengthening its
public health leaders, it is incumbent upon leaders and profes- ability to improve well-being and save lives—physically, men-
sionals across all societal organizations, including academia, tally, emotionally, and spiritually. Cohesion and leadership are
industry, mass media, social media, sports and entertainment, urgently needed to preserve our national security, improve the
and other potential areas of influence, to reflect on our current health of our nation, and provide a global example for other
societal dilemma and to adjust attention and actions accord- nations to follow. The time is now to rebuild cohesion, reduce
ingly for the benefit of society. suffering, and save lives.

Cohesion and Saving Lives Recommendations and Conclusions
Cohesion is critical to the effectiveness and health of military Individuals throughout society need to form and maintain ma-
forces. Cohesion is also critical to the success and health of a ture, meaningful, and cohesive relationships with one another.
society. Cohesion creates selfless service and a shared respon- Interpersonal communication and relationships are based on
sibility for standards, values, and a greater good while also perception and tolerance, how a person perceives and tolerates
providing everyone with the confidence that others are watch- another, and how, in turn, that person is perceived and toler-
ing over them, sure of their trustworthiness, commitment to ated. Routinely communicating in an apolitical, non-partisan,
shared ideals, and mutual support. Honesty and integrity are or bipartisan manner is helpful; to do otherwise can skew per-
basic structural components of truth that build a foundation ception and cultivate intolerance. Broadening the scope and
for trust. As leaders build trust, trust builds good leaders. intake of data and information to a variety of sources and
These leaders, in turn, build cohesive teams, organizations, viewpoints is needed to facilitate conversation and to avoid
and societies. Trust is required of military and societal leaders, partisan rhetoric, polarizing information, and news that sup-
and trust is required between citizens, within local communi- ports or promotes further bias or prejudice. Being respect-
ties, and throughout state and national populations. ful and focusing on not only listening but actually hearing,

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