Blackpool Council Annual Health Report 2019 Blackpool Council Annual Health Report PAGES | Page 13

Trauma is “an event, a series of events or a set of circumstances that is experienced by
an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life threatening” 1 . This can include
events in adulthood but also covers some adverse childhood experiences that are known
as ACEs (e.g. abuse, neglect or household factors such as domestic violence, parental
incarceration or drug/alcohol misuse).
Experiencing trauma is relatively common, but the experience and its impact are often
hidden. Over the last 20 years, it has become clearer that the experience of trauma can
affect the likelihood of experiencing poor health and social outcomes, as well as worse
mental health.
The experience of trauma can affect individuals in a number of ways, including the
direct impact of the trauma, its impact on a person’s coping responses, the impact on a
person’s relationships with others and influence this has on help seeking and engaging
with services.
Trauma Informed Practice is a way of working that recognises
• that anyone using a service may have experienced trauma or ACEs
• that people with a history of trauma may be less likely to engage with services
• the importance of relationships in preventing and recovering from the effects of
trauma and ACEs.
WHAT IS BEING "TRAUMA INFORMED"?
Many organisations in Blackpool and Lancashire are working towards becoming more
trauma-informed and understanding that trauma may impact the way clients cope
with stresses or interact with staff and others. We are moving towards asking “What’s
happened to you?” rather than “What’s wrong with you?”. We have a vision that all
public services will eventually incorporate this understanding of trauma into all policies
and areas of practice by:
• Creating physically and emotionally safe spaces
• Working transparently and establishing trust
• Giving people choice and control over their care
• Helping people to heal and develop healthy coping strategies
• Working in collaboration with service-users, respecting their experience and
co-producing policies and materials wherever possible
• Creating a culture of compassion within the organisation.
1. SAMHSA, 2014, p. 7
13