Cultivating Trauma-Informed Organizations and Services for People Living with Disabling Mental Health Conditions-View Presentation

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In the webinar, Dr. Gabriela Zapata-Alma discusses the importance of cultivating trauma-informed organizations and services for people living with disabling mental health conditions. Emphasizing the integration of trauma-informed care into every aspect of a service organization, Dr. Zapata-Alma highlights the various ways trauma can impact individuals and communities. She presents key concepts like institutional betrayal and sanctuary harm and delves into the neurobiological effects of trauma, illustrating how trauma responses can be rooted in neurological pathways and affect an individual's interaction with the world.<br /><br />The webinar also addresses the complexities of trauma symptoms, particularly emphasizing the impact on mental health and substance use disorders. Dr. Zapata-Alma advocates for an approach that considers personal trauma history as well as systemic conditions that can perpetuate discrimination and violence. She encourages fostering resilience and healing by creating environments that are safe, supportive, and culturally responsive.<br /><br />The presentation calls for trauma-informed approaches at both individual and organizational levels, underscoring the necessity of not just recognizing trauma but actively working towards minimizing retraumatization and encouraging healing. Tools, resources, and strategies for embedding trauma-informed practices are discussed, including the adoption of a universal precautions approach that assumes most people accessing services have experienced some form of trauma.<br /><br />Through improving awareness and understanding of trauma in service delivery, the goal is to enhance access and effectiveness of care for individuals with trauma histories, ultimately fostering an empathetic and supportive service environment.

Keywords

trauma-informed care

mental health

disabling conditions

institutional betrayal

sanctuary harm

neurobiological effects

substance use disorders

resilience

culturally responsive

universal precautions