Trauma-informed approach and impact

Trauma-informed approach, its' impact and how to support families and the community through safe, trusting environments.

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What is ‘trauma informed’?


Trauma informed approach and practice means recognising:

  • how common traumatic stress is;
  • the potential impacts of trauma and;
  • acting to avoid people becoming ‘retraumatised’ or unnecessarily stressed by interacting with you or your service;
  • It may also mean reviewing / auditing your service and making changes to make your service accessible to those who struggle to trust professionals.

What is the impact of trauma? 

Without the right support, trauma can have negative, lasting effects on physical health, mental health, and social outcomes. Studies have shown that repeated traumatic experiences and lack of supportive relationships link to an increased risk of:

  • disrupted nervous, hormonal, and immune development
  • emotional and learning problems
  • engaging in health harming behaviour
  • being involved in violence
  • experiencing illness like diabetes, cancer, or heart disease.

Why does it matter? 

Studies carried out in England, Wales, and the USA consistently demonstrate that around 50% of the population has experienced at least one traumatic or stressful event in childhood. Given trauma is common, many people struggle to trust professionals. To ensure people can access support there must be safety, trust, choice, collaboration, and empowerment.

How does trauma impact on children, families, and communities? 

Everyone responds to trauma in their own way. Trauma can present as:

  • angry outbursts
  • poor self-esteem
  • distrusting of those around us
  • feelings of anxiety
  • difficulty controlling emotions.

How can we support children, families, and communities? 

Support from a trusted adult is key. Building resilience through protective factors like:

  • developing problem-solving skills
  • learning to manage emotions
  • creating a stable environment.

What does it look like? 

We need a public health approach preventing and addressing the impact of childhood adversity. We can and must:

  • Prevent trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).
  • Support child and family wellbeing/parenting.
  • Detect and mitigate the impact of trauma.
  • Promote resilience across the life course.

Questions to consider and discuss:

  • Do I know how to identify ACEs/trauma?
  • Do I know how to support someone displaying signs of trauma?
  • Do I know where to signpost/refer people or families?
  • Do I show compassionate practice/trauma informed practice in my work?
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Trauma-informed toolkit

Practical resources and information about building trauma-informed practice in education settings.

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