Trauma

Disclaimer:

This publication is based on a Mind UK publication and the original version may be found here: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/a-z-mental-health/

Thank you to Mind UK for sharing their valuable content with us. Content included in Mental Health A-Z is made available free of charge and does not form part of any commercial activity. The adaptation has been done independently by Mind HK and is intended for general information purposes only.

What is trauma? 

Going through very stressful, frightening or distressing events is sometimes called trauma. When we talk about emotional or psychological trauma, we might mean: 

  • situations or events we find traumatic 
  • how we’re affected by our experiences. 

Traumatic events can happen at any age and can cause long-lasting harm. Everyone has a different reaction to trauma, so you might notice any effects quickly, or a long time afterwards. 

“I wish there was more awareness of trauma and the way it affects a person’s thought process and behaviour. […] Self-preservation behaviours can be greatly or misunderstood.” 

Going through further trauma can also cause you to start being affected by past experiences, or make existing problems worse. It’s ok to ask for help at any time – including if you’re not sure if you’ve experienced trauma. 

If you’ve been affected by trauma, it’s important to remember that you survived however you could and are having common, normal reactions. Find out more on our page on the effects of trauma

“I left home at 18 to escape my home life and was married very young and then divorced in my early twenties… I used alcohol, had very risky […] relationships, was in a constant state of terrible anxiety, self-harmed and at times was very suicidal… but I did not have the vocabulary to describe this either to myself or others.” 

What experiences might be traumatic? 

What’s traumatic is personal. Other people can’t know how you feel about your own experiences or if they were traumatic for you. You might have similar experiences to someone else, but be affected differently. 

Trauma can include events where you feel: 

  • frightened 
  • under threat 
  • humiliated 
  • rejected 
  • abandoned 
  • invalidated 
  • unsafe 
  • unsupported 
  • trapped 
  • ashamed
  • powerless. 

Ways trauma can happen include: 

  • one-off or ongoing events 
  • being directly harmed 
  • witnessing harm to someone else 
  • living in a traumatic atmosphere 
  • being affected by trauma in a family or community. 

Your experience of trauma might relate to parts of your identity, including if you’ve been harassed, bullied or discriminated against. If you’ve experienced trauma and identify as LGBTIQ+, our information on LGBTIQ+ mental health may be helpful for you. 

“For me, the memories have always been like a song I get stuck in my head. They play over and over, and sometimes I remember the words and sing along, and sometimes it’s just the instruments. But they never really go away, and sometimes it gets so loud, I can barely hear myself think.” 

Adverse Childhood Experiences 

Some people use the term Adverse Childhood Experiences (also known as ACEs) to describe stressful or difficult experiences in childhood, including sexual, physical or emotional abuse or neglect. Research has shown links between these types of experiences and both physical and mental health problems. 

If you have been abused or neglected in childhood, organisations like TALK Hong Kong or Against Child Abuse (ACA)  are there to support you. 

Can trauma cause mental health problems? 

Trauma can sometimes directly cause mental health problems, or make you more vulnerable to developing them. It is among the potential causes of all mental health problems. It can be difficult to tell which problems are being caused by trauma. 

Some conditions are also known to develop as a direct result of trauma, including post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (complex PTSD)

“Trauma sticks with you, even after the terrible moment has passed. It becomes a life sentence for a crime you didn’t commit.” 

How you’re affected may depend on other things too, such as: 

  • previous experiences of trauma 
  • other stresses or worries at the time or later on 
  • being harmed by people close to you 
  • whether anyone helped or supported you. 

“My high functioning depression and anxiety is a result of childhood trauma that lay dormant from age 13 until it [was] triggered when I was 39.” 

If you told someone about what happened and they didn’t listen to you or help you, this might have stopped you getting the support you needed or made you feel alone – which might have made the effects of trauma worse. 

Different perspectives on trauma and mental health 

There are various approaches to trauma and mental health problems. Some people find it helpful to receive a diagnosis because this feels validating or explains what they’re going through. 

Others feel this makes the focus of their problems more medical than is helpful, instead of recognising how any difficulties could be reactions to life experiences or ways of coping with adversity. They feel that it would be better for mental health professionals to focus on what elements of their life experience and environment may have contributed to their problems and address these, rather than locating the responsibility for their illness more in them as an individual. 

Connecting with people who have also survived trauma can sometimes be particularly helpful, for example through peer support – including if you don’t see your experiences in terms of medical problems or symptoms, or if mental health services have made things worse for you.  Some people might find it helpful to join a peer support group, Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service or your local Integrated Community Centre for Mental Wellness (ICCMW) might offer peer support services for people recovering from mental health problems. You can find your nearest ICCMW here.

However you prefer to think of your own experiences, we hope that you will find the information in these pages useful when considering different options for care and support. 

“On the days my head gets too loud, I like curling up with a cup of tea. I make a nest with my blankets, grab my rabbit for a cuddle, and curl up in front of a film. I feel bad about writing a day off when I should be studying, or working, but I know if I don’t give myself time, early on, then it’ll just build into something worse, and harder to handle.”

What is iACT Service?

Improving Access to Community Therapies (iACT®) is one of the services from Mind HK. Trained Wellbeing Practitioners will offer initial assessment and early intervention for people dealing with mild to moderate symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other emotional difficulties.

 

The service includes 6-8 sessions of low-intensity psychological support, the flexibility of the service allows individuals to receive free and timely support when needed.

If you’re aged between 18 – 65 and are facing some emotional challenges, we would like to invite you to take an online assessment for us to gain a better understanding of your current emotional struggle.

 

If you’re eligible, we’ll get you connected with a Wellbeing Practitioner within two weeks to sort out the next steps.

The service runs for about 3 months and includes 6-8 support sessions, tailored to your needs.

 

We encourage you to attend all sessions and actively practice the tips and exercises provided by your Wellbeing Practitioner.

We take your privacy seriously. Your chats with the Wellbeing Practitioner are confidential.

 

We won’t share any of your info unless you’ve provided consent or if there are risks detected.

This programme isn’t suitable for people facing emergencies, major setbacks, or those diagnosed with serious or complex mental health conditions.

 

If you’re having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, this programme might not meet your needs, so please seek help right away. You can check out Mind HK’s “Find Help Now” page for immediate information and services.

Most of our Wellbeing Practitioners have backgrounds in psychology or counselling and are passionate about mental health. They’ve gone through about 140 hours of intensive training and completed at least 120 hours of supervised clinical practice over 9 months to ensure the quality of service.

 

They’re trained by accredited local experts in the mental health field, including clinical psychologists, counselling psychologists, counsellors, and psychiatrists. Plus, we regularly check how effective our services are. All service outputs and performances are subject to consistent monitoring.

Who is suitable for participating in this programme?

This programme welcomes anyone between the ages of 18 and 65 who may be feeling lost or facing emotional difficulties. Please note that this programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions.

This programme is not suitable for individuals diagnosed with severe or complex mental health conditions, but suitable for those who experience mild to severe moderate anxiety, mild to moderate depression, or other emotional challenges. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

After signing up, our Wellbeing Practitioner will contact you within two weeks to schedule a convenient time for a 45-minute conversation, either via video or phone call, according to your preference. During the conversation, the Wellbeing Practitioner will understand your current situation and help you gain a better understanding of your emotional state based on the questionnaire you filled out during application. Additionally, they will provide recommendations for appropriate community resources based on your needs, helping you take an important first step in taking care of your mental health.

Although the intervention procedure is mostly standardised, Wellbeing Practitioners will work flexibly with clients to address individual presenting problems and unique characteristics.

Our Wellbeing Practitioners are trained to support people who experience mild to moderate mental health difficulties primarily. This programme is not suitable for the situations mentioned above. If you are currently experiencing a major setback or even having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please visit the “Find Help Now” page on our Mind HK’s website for immediate information and services.

Your conversations with the Wellbeing Practitioner are absolutely confidential. Any information about you will not be shared with anyone without your consent unless you or others are at immediate risk or the Wellbeing Practitioner has reason to believe that you may be in imminent danger.
Supervisors will monitor trainees’ development throughout the placement to ensure that they are meeting the required level of competency to pass the training course at the end of the placement.

Yes, it is necessary to book an appointment in advance by filling out the form. Additionally, you can select one of the five stores yourself. We will allocate clients to different Wellbeing Practitioners based on their chosen location.

Before having the conversation, we will ask you to fill out a basic questionnaire for preliminary screening assessment. This screening process aims to ensure that the training received by the Wellbeing Practitioners is sufficient to meet the needs of the individuals receiving the service. If it is determined after the screening assessment that the service is not suitable for you, Mind HK will provide alternative recommendations to ensure your safety and support.

For adults who are suitable for this service, all Wellbeing Practitioners have received training on how to identify and respond to safety and risk issues. If you have any concerns about the support process, the Wellbeing Practitioners have appropriate measures in place and will develop response plans based on the urgency of the situation. They can also access support from clinical practitioners from Mind HK or participating organisations.

What private training does Mind HK provide?

Mind HK provides 4 themes of mental health training, including: Supporting Self, Supporting Others, Family Wellbeing and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion).

 

Check out the brochure here for more information.

Mind HK provides a wide range of standardised mental health training, which can be tailored to different circumstances. Chat with our team to explore more

Our trainers come from a diverse, accredited pool of clinically experienced professionals. Check out our trainers’ biographies here.

Yes, the Mental Health First Aid class of Mind HK is internationally accredited by the MHFA International. The content and certification is delivered by trainers certified from the Mental Health Association of Hong Kong. You can find out our trainers accreditation here.

We are here to support your mental health education journey! Reach out to us and chat with our team.

What is trauma?

What is trauma? 

Going through very stressful, frightening or distressing events is sometimes called trauma. When we talk about emotional or psychological trauma, we might mean: 

  • situations or events we find traumatic 
  • how we're affected by our experiences. 

Traumatic events can happen at any age and can cause long-lasting harm. Everyone has a different reaction to trauma, so you might notice any effects quickly, or a long time afterwards. 

"I wish there was more awareness of trauma and the way it affects a person's thought process and behaviour. [...] Self-preservation behaviours can be greatly or misunderstood." 

Going through further trauma can also cause you to start being affected by past experiences, or make existing problems worse. It’s ok to ask for help at any time – including if you're not sure if you've experienced trauma. 

If you've been affected by trauma, it's important to remember that you survived however you could and are having common, normal reactions. Find out more on our page on the effects of trauma

"I left home at 18 to escape my home life and was married very young and then divorced in my early twenties... I used alcohol, had very risky [...] relationships, was in a constant state of terrible anxiety, self-harmed and at times was very suicidal... but I did not have the vocabulary to describe this either to myself or others." 

What experiences might be traumatic? 

What's traumatic is personal. Other people can't know how you feel about your own experiences or if they were traumatic for you. You might have similar experiences to someone else, but be affected differently. 

Trauma can include events where you feel: 

  • frightened 
  • under threat 
  • humiliated 
  • rejected 
  • abandoned 
  • invalidated 
  • unsafe 
  • unsupported 
  • trapped 
  • ashamed
  • powerless. 

Ways trauma can happen include: 

  • one-off or ongoing events 
  • being directly harmed 
  • witnessing harm to someone else 
  • living in a traumatic atmosphere 
  • being affected by trauma in a family or community. 

Your experience of trauma might relate to parts of your identity, including if you've been harassed, bullied or discriminated against. If you've experienced trauma and identify as LGBTIQ+, our information on LGBTIQ+ mental health may be helpful for you. 

"For me, the memories have always been like a song I get stuck in my head. They play over and over, and sometimes I remember the words and sing along, and sometimes it's just the instruments. But they never really go away, and sometimes it gets so loud, I can barely hear myself think." 

Adverse Childhood Experiences 

Some people use the term Adverse Childhood Experiences (also known as ACEs) to describe stressful or difficult experiences in childhood, including sexual, physical or emotional abuse or neglect. Research has shown links between these types of experiences and both physical and mental health problems. 

If you have been abused or neglected in childhood, organisations like TALK Hong Kong or Against Child Abuse (ACA)  are there to support you. 

Can trauma cause mental health problems? 

Trauma can sometimes directly cause mental health problems, or make you more vulnerable to developing them. It is among the potential causes of all mental health problems. It can be difficult to tell which problems are being caused by trauma. 

Some conditions are also known to develop as a direct result of trauma, including post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (complex PTSD)

"Trauma sticks with you, even after the terrible moment has passed. It becomes a life sentence for a crime you didn't commit." 

How you’re affected may depend on other things too, such as: 

  • previous experiences of trauma 
  • other stresses or worries at the time or later on 
  • being harmed by people close to you 
  • whether anyone helped or supported you. 

"My high functioning depression and anxiety is a result of childhood trauma that lay dormant from age 13 until it [was] triggered when I was 39." 

If you told someone about what happened and they didn't listen to you or help you, this might have stopped you getting the support you needed or made you feel alone – which might have made the effects of trauma worse. 

Different perspectives on trauma and mental health 

There are various approaches to trauma and mental health problems. Some people find it helpful to receive a diagnosis because this feels validating or explains what they’re going through. 

Others feel this makes the focus of their problems more medical than is helpful, instead of recognising how any difficulties could be reactions to life experiences or ways of coping with adversity. They feel that it would be better for mental health professionals to focus on what elements of their life experience and environment may have contributed to their problems and address these, rather than locating the responsibility for their illness more in them as an individual. 

Connecting with people who have also survived trauma can sometimes be particularly helpful, for example through peer support – including if you don’t see your experiences in terms of medical problems or symptoms, or if mental health services have made things worse for you.  Some people might find it helpful to join a peer support group, Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service or your local Integrated Community Centre for Mental Wellness (ICCMW) might offer peer support services for people recovering from mental health problems. You can find your nearest ICCMW here.

However you prefer to think of your own experiences, we hope that you will find the information in these pages useful when considering different options for care and support. 

"On the days my head gets too loud, I like curling up with a cup of tea. I make a nest with my blankets, grab my rabbit for a cuddle, and curl up in front of a film. I feel bad about writing a day off when I should be studying, or working, but I know if I don't give myself time, early on, then it'll just build into something worse, and harder to handle."