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Trauma in CYP and their families - Coggle Diagram
Trauma in CYP and their families
.
Experiencing trauma increases the chances that CYP will develop psychological problems, but this will not be the case for all CYP. Not all CYP who experience trauma will access MH services.
Having an understanding trauma and how trauma effects CYP is important to respond appropriately and identify where further support may be needed.
What is Trauma?
Types of traumatic events:
Important to differentiate between different types of traumatic events experienced by CYP, and their likely impact.
Different sorts of trauma may lead to different outcomes.
CYP who experience trauma (recent/historical) will all present differently/ will have different presentations/may present in different ways.
Single Event (Type 1) Trauma
Exposure to a single, isolated traumatic event/incident
Associated with PTSD
Sudden, surprising, devastating event that was unanticipated
Short-term, limited duration
Affects CYP indiscriminately
Complex, Cumulative (Type 2) Trauma
Exposure to prolonged and repetitive trauma (A series of traumatic events/ prolonged traumatic event)
Associated with Complex PTSD reactions
Variable, multiple, chronic, long-standing, repeated and anticipated traumas.
More likely to be out of intentional human design
Often occurs early in the developing life of a child
Can have a negative impact on their development
Impossible to escape
Often occurs in a relationship that is suppose to be caregiving
Categorising Traumatic Events
:
Single Event Trauma
House Fire
Almost drowning in a swimming pool
Car Crash
Bitten by a dog
Finding out about the death of a parent
Witnessing parent having a heart attack
Being hit by a car
Complex, Cumulative Trauma
Sexual Abuse
Witnessing domestic violence within the family home
Neglect of physical care/ emotional need
Inconsistent/ frightening parental responses
Chronic Bullying
Emotional Abuse
Physical abuse
Can't tell without further information
Falling out of a tree
Teasing by other C/YP
Parent on military tour of duty
Fell crossing a road
Knocked over by a big dog
Hit on head with ball
Prevalence of Traumatic Events
By 16, 2/3 YP will have been exposed to a
Single Traumatic Event
Complex, Cumulative Trauma
is underrecognised:
Tends to happen behind closed doors, within families
Children are often too young to report.
They may not report because they haven't experienced people being available/ able to help them.
1/5 CYP will experience a high level of abuse
1/4 CYP will experience family violence
Risk Factors for MH Difficulties
CYP will not necessarily develop difficulties as a result of trauma exposure.
CYP Risk Factors:
Previous exposure to multiple traumas increases risk.
Trauma that happens at a younger age before coping strategies have been developed increases risk.
History of anxiety disorders increases risk
History of depression increases risk
Family Factors:
Secure attachments with primary care-givers decreases risk.
An adverse family environment increases risk (e.g. high expressed emotion and low warmth).
Parental mental ill health increases risk
Wider Systems
Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC):
GIRFEC is the national approach in Scotland to improving outcomes and supporting the wellbeing of CYP by offering the right help at the right time from the right people.
Supports CYP and their care-givers to work in partnership with the services that can help them.
GIRFEC - The Scottish Government, One Good Adult
YP value the presence of a supportive adult in their lives, who can tune in to them, notice if they are struggling and listen to their concerns.
Keep Trauma In Mind
CYP tend to react to trauma in different ways at different developmental stages.
Although not all children exposed to trauma will go on to develop difficulties.
Young children tend to show their distress through their behaviour.
Older children and young people can experience more typical trauma symptoms (such as flashbacks).
Pre-School Child
May be reluctant to separate from parent/carer
May complain of sore tummies/heads and may have change in appetite
May be harder than usual to calm and reassure them.
May have sleep difficulties (onset and night-waking) and have more nightmares than usual
May develop fears
Traumatic experience may not be described verbally, but instead be reflected in their drawing or games
May become more distractible, oppositional and irritable
May begin wetting again after being dry
May become afraid to go to the toilet alone
May begin sucking their thumb again/ more than before
Older Children and Young People
May reexperience aspects of the trauma through intrusive experiences:
Flashbacks (sudden, unpleasant, unwanted memories of the event)
Frightening dreams
Experience over-arousal:
Agitation
Easily Startled
Comorbid MH issues:
Feeling angry
Anxious
Depressed
Misusing substances
CYP might present as
naughty
or
silly
but they may also present as
quiet
and
withdrawn
.
May be particularly anxious at night-time, may bed-wet where they were previously dry.
Trauma Is Everyone's Business