Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care

Abstract

There is an increasing recognition of the need to design and develop services that adopt a more sensitive, informed and responsive approach to those who may have experienced trauma and use or need mental health support and care. Developing a trauma-informed care approach demands not only an understanding of trauma and its associated link with mental health and recovery but also an understanding of the potential for re-traumatisation to occur in the context of some mental health practices and care. An equally important component of a trauma-informed care approach is improving staff’s well-being by reducing secondary trauma stress and/or vicarious traumatisation. However, the implementation of a trauma-informed care approach has been challenged within the mental health services by the lack of understanding about trauma and its impact, as well as a lack of clarity about what constitutes the implementation of a trauma-informed approach in practice. This chapter focuses on how advanced practice mental health nurses (APMHNs) can, through their own practice, enhance the understanding of trauma, facilitate the development and implementation of a trauma-informed approach to mental healthcare and advocate for the systemic changes required to be better able to meet the needs, well-being and safety of both those receiving care and those providing care across the mental health system.