Following the success of Healthwatch Essex's Trauma card, Healthwatch Warrington, and brought to our attention by our Trauma Ambassador, we present our Trauma Card to empower those who have lived experience of trauma.
Trauma Card to empower those who have lived experience of trauma
Following the success of Healthwatch Essex's Trauma card, Healthwatch Warrington has recruited Trina as its new Trauma Ambassador. We present our Trauma Card to empower those who have lived experience of trauma. This enables health and social care organisations to ensure that people presenting are treated with the care that they need.
If you have been presented with a trauma card, the person you are interacting with is living with the effects of trauma, and the situation you are currently in has generated a trigger for them.
You may not have been aware that they were affected by trauma, and you may not be able to pinpoint what has occurred to cause the reaction. However, neither of these things are your primary concern. What matters is how the situation now progresses, as what happens will likely have a significant impact on the relationship/engagement going forward.
Please show the person who has given you this card empathy and understanding. They are in a situation where their immediate instinct may be to leave or ‘shut down’ and not engage. This comes from the need to protect themselves as they feel unsafe and not in control of the situation. It does not mean that they do not wish to engage with you and whatever process they are there for; it means that, at this moment in time, they are unable to do so through no fault of their own.
Please be patient and give the person time, without pressure. If they are able to communicate, ask them if there is anything you can provide that would help, such as being in a separate room or going outside for some fresh air. It may be that there is a song on the radio which has triggered them; this could be turned off. There are endless possibilities, but if you are able to communicate in a sensitive and understanding manner, the person may feel able to tell you what they need.
The individual may need to remove themselves from the current situation as soon as possible. This does not mean that they don’t wish to engage or continue at a later date with the process that was underway; it simply means that they are unable to do so at this moment in time. Please assure them that you will reach out to them to discuss how they wish to proceed at a later date. It is important for them not to feel that their care or support will be adversely affected by something that is out of their control.
