Talking about adversity, trauma and resilience
We are working in partnership with a range of organisations from the health and children’s sectors to improve how health professionals communicate about adversity, trauma and resilience in infants, children and young people (ICYP).
Earlier this year, ADPH invited FrameWorks UK to present a set of evidence-based recommendations to Directors of Public Health and other public health professionals to enable them to better explain the causes and impact of adversity, trauma and resilience to policy makers and the wider public.
The recommendations, which have been endorsed by ADPH, The Health Foundation, School and Public Health Nurses Association, Institute of Health Visiting and NHS Scotland, provide practical guidance for improving understanding, as well as producing resources and literature, about adversity, trauma and resilience.
FrameWorks developed the recommendations following research in both the US and UK, and suggest that talking about adversity, trauma and resilience is most effective when:
- Focusing on community strength, not widespread trauma or crisis.
- Harnessing the power of three – talk about adversity, trauma and resilience together.
- Talking about positive outcomes and collective solutions.
Kate Stanley, Executive Director of Frameworks UK, explained:
“How we talk about issues is a crucial aspect of public health communication. To increase public understanding of adversity, trauma and resilience, we need to take the time to explain how trauma can happen and what we can do about it. It’s vital to focus on explanation rather than simply restating how widespread trauma is.”
Sarah Muckle, ADPH lead for Children and Young People, said:
“It is absolutely crucial that infants, children and young people are given the very best start in life as these formative years shape future health both for the individual, their future families, and the communities they live in.
“Unfortunately, the reality is that not all children are given this start. There are a huge range of professionals working incredibly hard to support those children to thrive and we need to do everything in our power to help policy makers – and the wider public – understand the issues around this incredibly important topic.
“Ultimately, only through whole community understanding will we be able to implement truly effective change that will lead to a happier, healthier society where all infants, children and young people are able to thrive.”
ENDS