Trauma-informed care
Ideally, everyone working in mental health and addiction services will understand and work well with people who have suffered trauma. Trauma can be caused by psychological, physical or sexual abuse, or by environmental causes such as a natural disaster, terrorism or war.
In 2011, Te Pou co-hosted two workshops by world experts in trauma-informed care for clinicians and workers across the health and disability sector. They were very well received by the 192 participants, who felt better informed and equipped to support traumatised people.
The workshops were co-hosted with the International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership (IIMHL). They were presented by US-based experts, Dr Bob Glover from the National Association of State Mental Health Programme Directors (NASMHPD) and Dr Brian Sims, senior director of behavioural and mental health for Conmed Healthcare Management. Subjects canvassed included strategies in working with people who have experienced trauma and physiological responses to trauma. Workshop presentations and videos are available on this website.
Many clinicians and workers across the disability and health sector are struggling with how to address trauma needs and don’t want to be in a position where they re-traumatise people in treatment or interactions. These concerns led to the workshop initiative.
The workshops complement existing Te Pou work such as Let’s get real, talking therapies and sensory modulation, which help the sector respond to trauma.
Visit the Mental Health Coordination Council (Australia) trauma informed care website.
Video presentations
Trauma-informed care (19:49) |
Trauma-sensitive tools (8:43) |
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Understanding trauma (31:58) |
