‘these activities enhanced our understanding of PTSD & trauma.’
Jonathan Store, Team Leader, South Manchester Mental Health Training Unit
Understanding PTSD and Trauma
For teachers and support staff, trauma and PTSD can be particularly challenging to address because students often do not express the distress they are feeling in a way that is easy to recognise. Instead, they mask their pain and their fear with behaviours that are often aggressive or challenging. In fact, they are masters of making sure no one can see their pain.
This training is for those working with children and young people who are experiencing adversity from a variety of sources that is a barrier to thriving. When teachers and school leaders are able to identify the symptoms of trauma and PTSD, they are better able to understand a traumatized student’s behaviours. Preliminary studies by Bath Spa University, have suggested that increased awareness of attachment and trauma issues among teaching and non-teaching staff can positively influence the school environment, enhance wellbeing and ultimately improve learning and educational outcomes for vulnerable young people.
INSET Outline
How PTSD is one of a range of trauma and adversity that a person experiences.
- What is PTSD?
- The possible symptoms of PTSD
- Potential causes and how can it be treated.
- Review of current research and data on PTSD and other adversities
- Lessons from a range of case studies
- PTSD and suicide
Becoming a Trauma informed school
How to become a recognised Trauma informed school, including what strategies, particularly training, must be place to qualify.
Review of self-harm, as both within the range of trauma and as a cause itself of trauma.
- To define what self-harm is.
- To recognise what might cause a young child to self-harm.
- To review current research on self-harming.
- To explore ways to help a young child to control self-harming behaviour.
- To examine multi-disciplinary approaches to supporting parents of a young child that self-harms.
Strategies and support systems for those working with trauma.
- For all staff, children themselves, parents and other agencies.
- The effects on professional responders.
- DSM – diagnostic criteria levels 1 – 5 of PTSD
