A soldier is blown up in front of a “sticky bun” facility and bravely makes it back to the medical centre where the soldier, buddies and civilians get excellent medical care at city hospital. Significant events were witnessed by so many children during and after the 2ndWorld War when many psychologically damaged parents returned from war or the children themselves witnessing the bombings such as the Baedeker Raids in Bath for example. How do you walk as tentatively as possible to defuse a bomb, say time and time again, and not be psychologically affected? What about the national disasters from Aberfan to across the world, such as The Granville Train Disaster in NSW Australia, not forgetting the wars and conflicts from 1901 onwards including the Korean War and Northern Ireland? Did people get the psychological support they will have needed? Probably not! Swindon Trauma Group’s Conference in October will address these issues.
The Nursing Times, as far back as March 1994, did three excellent articles with the emphasis on support for nursing staff after trauma and allowing people permission to mourn and not be under pressure to “get over it”.
Swindon Trauma Group has been going a number of years with a lot of support locally and nationally. Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress can develop when a person is subjected to an event considered outside the realms of usual human experience which can include, for example, multiple physical childhood trauma, where the child can experience the pain returning time and time again. If the symptoms persist for more than four weeks, or the psychological symptoms return months or years later, the person may well have developed Post-Traumatic-Stress Disorder which can devastate not only individuals but also families and groups.
On the 18 October from 0900 to 1730 hrs the Swindon Trauma Group will be holding their 10thAnnual Conference at the Swindon Marriot Hotel with also a meal in the evening in the lounge area between the bar and restaurant.
The group are proud to have some excellent speakers and international performers again this year with the title this year being, Do PTS and PTSD remain very much the Invisible Injuries and has society moved on in supporting Post Trauma Survivors? Subjects covered will include the Tenacity of how two mums fought the war on drugs, raising the awareness of mental health and PTSD, followed by therapy through animals and the final session in the morning, “A Short Journey into Trauma – Understanding and Coping with Post-Traumatic Stress”.
After a delicious sandwich lunch, with refreshments, the afternoon will highlight on two aspects, music and song, and how music can reduce anxiety and depression. We also have a presentation, just before the mid-afternoon break, on the Grenfell Tower Disaster, entitled ‘Lessons Learnt’.
For further information on above event please ring (07505) 476139 or view at www.SwindonTraumaGroup.org.uk
