Supporting Someone After a Traumatic Event
Following a traumatic event, people may experience a range of emotions, feelings or symptoms.
There are many different types of traumatic events that someone may witness or experience. These events can include natural disasters such as natural disasters floods, storms or fires, as well as accidents such as car crashes or workplace accidents. Traumatic events can also include physical or sexual assault, domestic violence or terrorism. Then there are psychological traumas such as abusive behaviour, bullying and stalking. Witnessing or experiencing any of these events can have a significant impact on an individual's mental health, and it's important to seek support if you or someone you know has experienced a traumatic event. Not everyone who experiences trauma will go on to develop PTSD, but some people might. PTSD can have a significant impact on an individual's daily life and mental health, and it's important to provide support to someone who may be experiencing this condition. In this blog post, we will explore PTSD and discuss how you can support someone who has experienced a traumatic event following mental health first aid guidelines.
What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can occur after experiencing, witnessing or hearing about a traumatic event. This event can be anything from a natural disaster to a serious accident, physical or sexual assault or other types of violence. The symptoms of PTSD can vary but can include re-experiencing the traumatic event, avoidance of triggers, hyperarousal, and negative changes in mood and thinking.
It's important to note that not everyone who experiences a traumatic event will develop PTSD, and the severity of the symptoms can vary from person to person. PTSD can be a chronic condition, and it's important to seek professional help if you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms.
How to support someone who has experienced a traumatic event
If you know someone who has experienced a traumatic event, it's important to provide support and understanding. Here are some mental health first aid guidelines on how to support someone who has experienced a traumatic event:
Listen without judgment: It's essential to listen to the person without judgment or criticism. Allow them to share their experiences and feelings without interruption.
Validate their feelings: It's important to validate the person's feelings and let them know that it's normal to experience a wide range of emotions after a traumatic event. Let them know that you believe them and that their feelings are valid. It’s not up to us to determine if an event was traumatic or not.
Provide reassurance: Provide reassurance that the person is safe and that you are there to support them. Let them know that it's okay to ask for help if they need it. Provide evidence-based resources.
Encourage self-care: Encourage the person to engage in self-care activities such as exercise, meditation, or spending time in nature. These activities can help reduce stress and promote a sense of wellbeing.
Encourage professional help: Encourage the person to seek professional help from a mental health professional, if they are open to it and could benefit from professional support. This could look like accessing support through a GP, psychologist or one of our trained social workers.
PTSD can have a significant impact on an individual's daily life and mental health, and it's important to provide support to someone who may be experiencing this condition. Listening without judgment, validating their feelings, providing reassurance, encouraging self-care, and encouraging professional help are all important ways to support someone who has experienced a traumatic event.
Contact us today if you would like to explore providing Resilience or Mental Health First Aid training in your workplace.