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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.

How can I overcome barriers? 

This section has information about: 

  • what barriers you might face when seeking help 
  • how you can overcome these barriers. 

What barriers might I face when seeking help? 

Seeking help with the effects of trauma can be difficult, and you might sometimes face barriers to getting the support you need and deserve. For example: 

  • You may not be able to talk about what happened. This may bring up very strong feelings or trigger reactions like panic attacks, dissociation or suicidal feelings. 
  • You may not know if it was trauma. For example, you may not remember what happened, or know how to understand your experiences. 
  • You may have had bad experiences of seeking help. For example, if people didn’t listen to you or help you, or you’ve been harmed by poor healthcare. 

“From a very early age I recognised that things didn’t always ‘add up’ but it took many years and until very recently… I am 58… for me to put many of the pieces of my history together… particularly in relation to the impact on me.” 

  • You may need to explain things to multiple people. You may talk to several healthcare professionals before you can access the right support. This could mean you’re asked the same questions a number of times. 
  • Professionals don’t always understand trauma, which might mean they don’t understand your strengths or what’s helped you survive. For example, you might feel that your coping mechanisms are being judged or criticised. 
  • Other people may not understand. For example, family or community members may be hostile or critical of people seeking help with trauma or their mental health, or may deny or dismiss what you’re going through. 
  • You may have tried something that hasn’t helped, which can feel really discouraging. 
  • Coping with trauma can sometimes feel too difficult. There might be times when you feel like you can’t cope or it all just seems too hard. 

If you’re unhappy with how professionals are treating you, you can make a complaint. 

How can I overcome these barriers? 

If you’re facing barriers like these, here are some things that could help: 

  • Write things down.This could help if it’s too hard to say things out loud or you don’t want to repeat them. 
  • Take it one day at a time. There might be good days and bad days. Try to focus on each day at a time and set yourself small, achievable goals. 
  • You can choose what you share. What you tell people about your experiences is up to you. 
  • Tell people what sort of support you would like. For example asking someone to listen and not give you advice. 
  • Ask professionals about their expertise. You can ask if they have specific training and experience of working with trauma, and about anything else that concerns you. 
  • Show people this information. It may help them to learn more about trauma. 

“I was very damaged by a counsellor who was very well meaning but treated me like a guinea pig with her questioning and at times brutal approach.” 

  • You can try therapy whether or not you can open up. Some people think you can only get help from a therapist if you feel ready to open up, but this isn’t true. Therapists who understand trauma should support you and give you coping skills, however much you do or don’t share. 
  • Ask what choices you can make. For example, you might be able to request a therapist of a particular gender, or choose to sit facing the door if that feels safer for you. See our information on getting the most from therapy for more suggestions. 
  • Focus on how you’re feeling now. Whether or not you remember or understand what happened, you can seek help with how you’re affected and what’s happening for you now. 
  • Trauma affects everyone differently. The support you need is also individual to you. You might need support with any type of trauma, after any amount of time. 
  • Connect with people who’ve been there too. Getting support and encouragement from people who’ve been through something similar can be really helpful. See our pages on peer support for more information. 

“I spoke to some other survivors and realised they felt the exact same way. Talking to them was brilliant. It made me realise that while my behaviour had changed, I was just coping the way I could, that we all were.” 

  • Explore any alternatives. Our pages on treatments and therapies could give you more options to discuss with your doctor. There may be something you haven’t tried yet that could be helpful. 

If you’ve tried something and it hasn’t helped, try to be gentle and patient with yourself. Coping with the effects of trauma can be really difficult and can take a lot of time and energy, but many people find that when they have the right combination of treatments, self-care and support, it is possible to feel better.

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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.

How can I overcome barriers?

How can I overcome barriers? 

This section has information about: 

  • what barriers you might face when seeking help 
  • how you can overcome these barriers. 

What barriers might I face when seeking help? 

Seeking help with the effects of trauma can be difficult, and you might sometimes face barriers to getting the support you need and deserve. For example: 

  • You may not be able to talk about what happened. This may bring up very strong feelings or trigger reactions like panic attacks, dissociation or suicidal feelings. 
  • You may not know if it was trauma. For example, you may not remember what happened, or know how to understand your experiences. 
  • You may have had bad experiences of seeking help. For example, if people didn't listen to you or help you, or you’ve been harmed by poor healthcare. 

"From a very early age I recognised that things didn’t always ‘add up’ but it took many years and until very recently... I am 58... for me to put many of the pieces of my history together... particularly in relation to the impact on me." 

  • You may need to explain things to multiple people. You may talk to several healthcare professionals before you can access the right support. This could mean you're asked the same questions a number of times. 
  • Professionals don't always understand trauma, which might mean they don't understand your strengths or what's helped you survive. For example, you might feel that your coping mechanisms are being judged or criticised. 
  • Other people may not understand. For example, family or community members may be hostile or critical of people seeking help with trauma or their mental health, or may deny or dismiss what you're going through. 
  • You may have tried something that hasn’t helped, which can feel really discouraging. 
  • Coping with trauma can sometimes feel too difficult. There might be times when you feel like you can't cope or it all just seems too hard. 

If you're unhappy with how professionals are treating you, you can make a complaint. 

How can I overcome these barriers? 

If you're facing barriers like these, here are some things that could help: 

  • Write things down.This could help if it's too hard to say things out loud or you don’t want to repeat them. 
  • Take it one day at a time. There might be good days and bad days. Try to focus on each day at a time and set yourself small, achievable goals. 
  • You can choose what you share. What you tell people about your experiences is up to you. 
  • Tell people what sort of support you would like. For example asking someone to listen and not give you advice. 
  • Ask professionals about their expertise. You can ask if they have specific training and experience of working with trauma, and about anything else that concerns you. 
  • Show people this information. It may help them to learn more about trauma. 

"I was very damaged by a counsellor who was very well meaning but treated me like a guinea pig with her questioning and at times brutal approach." 

  • You can try therapy whether or not you can open up. Some people think you can only get help from a therapist if you feel ready to open up, but this isn’t true. Therapists who understand trauma should support you and give you coping skills, however much you do or don’t share. 
  • Ask what choices you can make. For example, you might be able to request a therapist of a particular gender, or choose to sit facing the door if that feels safer for you. See our information on getting the most from therapy for more suggestions. 
  • Focus on how you're feeling now. Whether or not you remember or understand what happened, you can seek help with how you're affected and what's happening for you now. 
  • Trauma affects everyone differently. The support you need is also individual to you. You might need support with any type of trauma, after any amount of time. 
  • Connect with people who’ve been there too. Getting support and encouragement from people who've been through something similar can be really helpful. See our pages on peer support for more information. 

"I spoke to some other survivors and realised they felt the exact same way. Talking to them was brilliant. It made me realise that while my behaviour had changed, I was just coping the way I could, that we all were." 

  • Explore any alternatives. Our pages on treatments and therapies could give you more options to discuss with your doctor. There may be something you haven't tried yet that could be helpful. 

If you’ve tried something and it hasn't helped, try to be gentle and patient with yourself. Coping with the effects of trauma can be really difficult and can take a lot of time and energy, but many people find that when they have the right combination of treatments, self-care and support, it is possible to feel better.