Safety, Support and Growth: Effective Trauma-Informed Peer Support and Post-Traumatic Growth-View Presentation Slides

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The document outlines a webinar from the American Psychiatric Association discussing effective trauma-informed peer support and post-traumatic growth. The program highlights various aspects of trauma, its impact, and how peer support can facilitate recovery and growth following traumatic experiences.<br /><br />Trauma-informed peer support focuses on creating a safe, trustworthy, and empathetic environment for individuals recovering from trauma. The key principles include safety, trustworthiness, collaboration, empowerment, and cultural respect. Peer support differs from traditional mental health settings by fostering mutual exchanges and understanding trauma as a reaction rather than a pathology.<br /><br />The initial impact of trauma often manifests as fear, confusion, anxiety, and exhaustion. More severe responses may include persistent distress, dissociative symptoms, and intense recollections. Later, trauma can lead to fatigue, sleep disorders, and other delayed responses. <br /><br />Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) refers to positive changes some individuals experience following trauma, involving an appreciation for life, improved relationships, new possibilities, personal strength, and spiritual changes. PTG is distinct from experiencing post-traumatic stress and can coexist with it. It involves internal transformation supported by relationships and understanding.<br /><br />The webinar emphasized that support should not be about fixing problems but rather enabling individuals to be seen and heard. It involves developing relationships that empower individuals to understand their experiences positively.<br /><br />This event also included practical logistics such as how to participate in Q&A sessions, access educational credits, and engage with the content through downloadable materials. Upcoming topics in related webinars and initiatives by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) were also discussed. Overall, the webinar highlights the importance of empathy, mutual support, and understanding in trauma recovery.

Keywords

trauma-informed

peer support

post-traumatic growth

American Psychiatric Association

trauma recovery

mutual exchanges

empowerment

cultural respect

mental health

SAMHSA