The Impact of Trauma-Informed Care in Mental Health Settings

When it comes to healthcare, the concept of Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) has gained significant attention in recent years. The acknowledgment of how traumatic experiences can profoundly affect mental health has led to the development of TIC approaches in various healthcare settings.

The Importance of Trauma-Informed Care

According to the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), trauma is defined as events perceived as harmful or life-threatening with long-lasting adverse effects on well-being. Individuals receiving mental health services, especially those in acute settings, often have high levels of trauma. Additionally, healthcare staff in these environments also face work-related trauma, leading to reciprocal traumatisation.

TIC aims to understand the relationship between trauma and mental health, providing comprehensive responses to prevent re-traumatisation. It involves recognizing the connections between trauma and mental health, addressing social trauma and multiple intersecting traumas, conducting sensitive inquiries into trauma experiences, and referring individuals to evidence-based trauma-specific support. TIC also prioritizes the emotional and physical safety of service users, fosters collaborative relationships, and emphasizes trust and transparency.

Exploring Trauma-Informed Care Approaches

A recent scoping review conducted by Kitty Saunders and colleagues focused on identifying and exploring TIC approaches in acute, crisis, emergency, and residential mental health care. The review aimed to highlight the experiences and outcomes of service users and staff, as well as the practices, well-being, and cost-effectiveness of TIC approaches.

Key Findings

The review identified 31 studies that met the inclusion criteria. The most commonly reported TIC models were the Six Core Strategies and the Sanctuary Model, each showing positive outcomes such as reduction in seclusion and restraint practices, improved staff attitudes, empathy, and team cohesion, and increased service user involvement leading to better outcomes.

Six Core Strategies

• Implemented primarily to reduce seclusion and restraint, based on trauma-informed and strengths-based care.
• Improved staff attitudes, empathy, and team cohesion.

Sanctuary Model

• Applied in child and adolescent residential settings to promote safety and recovery.
• Reported decreased absconsion, restraint, and removal from programs.

Implications for Practice

The successful implementation of TIC in inpatient and residential settings requires strong leadership, clear staff roles, and collaboration with service users. TIC should be integrated into healthcare professional education and staff training programs to ensure safe and appropriate care. Future research should focus on measuring TIC’s impact compared to existing practices and explore its effects in emergency services and other healthcare settings.

Conclusion

Trauma-Informed Care has the potential to revolutionize mental health services by prioritizing understanding, empathy, and safety. By incorporating TIC principles into healthcare practices, we can create more compassionate and effective services for individuals experiencing trauma.