The ongoing importance of the routine enquiry into trauma and abuse and trauma‐informed care within mental health trusts in England

Abstract

Accessibility SummaryWhat is known on the subject? A significant number of people with mental health diagnoses have also experienced some form of trauma. In 2008, it was recommended that MHTs in England provide training to MHPs to support them in how to ask their service users about trauma and abuse. It has been identified that staff are not consistently enquiring about trauma and abuse in mental health services. What the paper adds to existing knowledge? A description of how many MHTs in England are providing training for staff to ensure that they enquire about trauma and abuse. The current gaps in the resources available for mental health practitioners and staff. What are the implications for practice? Much more work and development of trauma‐informed care and accessibility of training is needed for MHPs working in MHTs. Most MHTs still need to take the first step of implementing training in trauma‐informed care. This should involve ways to ask about trauma and abuse and advice on how to respond to any disclosures made. AbstractIntroductionTrauma, abuse and adversities are extremely prevalent for those who access secondary mental health services. Health policy guidance recommends that mental health professionals (MHPs) should routinely enquire about trauma and abuse. Staff training is required to adopt trauma‐informed approaches, as research has identified a clear gap in practice. This study provides a baseline measure of the current provision of trauma‐informed training in English mental health trusts (MHTs).QuestionWhat trauma‐informed training is currently available for MHPs in England?MethodA freedom of information request was submitted to 52 MHTs in England to explore the current training available for MHPs in trauma‐informed care, routine enquiry into abuse and responding to disclosures.ResultsThe results showed 70% of respondents reported no available training in trauma‐informed care.DiscussionMany MHTs in England do not provide any trauma‐informed training (despite existing recommendations from 2008). Does this contribute to the re‐traumatisation of patients?Implications for PracticeMHTs in England require a responsible and active approach to training MHPs in sensitive routine enquiry into trauma and abuse as a first step to becoming trauma responsive.