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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.

What treatments could help? 

Everyone has their own response to trauma. The treatment you are offered will depend on your particular symptoms and diagnosis (if you have one) and on your own unique needs. What helps is different person to person, and can change over time, so keeping an open mind and exploring different options can be useful. 

This section covers: 

  • talking therapies 
  • arts and creative therapies 
  • medication 
  • crisis services 
  • accessing treatment 

Talking therapies 

There are different types of talking therapies but they are all designed to give you space to explore difficult feelings and experiences with a trained professional. 

Different people find different types of therapy helpful for trauma – there isn’t one tried and tested approach. Research has shown that the relationship you have with your therapist is particularly important, regardless of the type of therapy they practise. 

“I learned through therapy that I actually probably did survive because I used those coping behaviours, [which] were damaging, but they were the only ones I knew at the time.” 

Types of therapy some people find helpful include: 

  • Body-focused therapies, which address how trauma affects your body as well as your mind.
  • Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR), which involves making rhythmic eye movements while recalling a traumatic event and is most commonly used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Find out more on the The EMDR Association of Hong Kong website.
  • Trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy, which is a form of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) specifically adapted for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Find out more in our pages on CBT.
  • Cognitive analytic therapy (CAT), which looks at how past events and relationships can affect how you think, feel and act, bringing together ideas from several different therapies.
  • Schema therapy, which helps address unmet needs and difficult beliefs about yourself. This can include working through the effects of trauma.

Find out more on our pages on talking therapy and counselling, including tips on how to get the most from therapy.

The Department of Justice includes guidelines for vulnerable witnesses, including special accommodations to make you feel more comfortable.  

If you have been the victim of sexual violence Rainlily offers free legal advice and support during judicial precedings. 

Arts and creative therapies 

Arts and creative therapies are treatments which involve using arts-based activities like art, music or drama in a therapeutic environment, with the support of a trained professional. You don’t need to have done these activities before, or have any particular skills or knowledge. 

Some people say they find these sorts of therapies helpful because they provide ways of addressing painful feelings and difficult experiences without using words. This can include experiences of trauma. Find out more on the Hong Kong Association of Art Therapists website. 

Medication 

Some people find medication helpful in managing mental health problems that may be linked to trauma. Which type of drug you are offered will depend on the specific mental health problems or symptoms you’re experiencing. 

Before you decide to take any medication, you should make sure you have all the facts you need to feel confident about your decision. For guidance on what you might want to ask your doctor about any drug before you take it, including your right to refuse medication, see our information on psychiatric medication. 

“A lot of my trauma centers around my gender and how other people perceive me. Finding good, supportive mental health professionals has really helped me understand how and why certain things affect me in specific ways.” 

Crisis services 

Crisis services can be helpful if you’re going through a mental health crisis. For example: 

  • The Samaritans Hong Kong (multilingual hotline: 2896 0000) or The Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong (Chinese hotline: 2389 2222)
  • Local support services may be available in your area, including day services, drop- in sessions or issue-specific support. 
  • Crisis teams can support you at home during a mental health crisis. 
  • Crisis houses offer intensive, short-term support to help you manage a mental health crisis in a residential setting (rather than in a hospital). 

For more information, see our pages on what to do in a crisis. 

Accessing treatment 

Here are some ways you could access treatment and support: 

  • Contacting your doctor. 
  • Self-referral. Some areas run services which you can contact directly to refer yourself for talking therapy. Your doctor might give you details.
  • Specialist organisations. See our useful contacts page for organisations that may offer therapy or other support for trauma or be able to put you in touch with local services. 
  • Private therapists. Finding a private therapist is another option some people choose to explore. Find out more on our page on seeking help in Hong Kong 

“In my experience, understanding the how and why makes me feel empowered to be able to adapt my behaviour or environment to make it much less stressful and anxiety inducing.” 

To find out about treatments for particular conditions, see our mental health A-Z.

What if I’m not offered the right type of treatment? 

If you don’t feel like you are offered treatment that is right for you, you could talk to the provider and explain this to them. If that doesn’t work you could make a complaint. 

If receiving the wrong kind of care has caused you harm you might have a claim for clinical negligence. For more, see the Community Legal Information Centre for legal information about medical negligence. For this you would need to show that a healthcare professional failed in their duty to take care of you, and you experienced damage or loss as a result of that failure. 

For more information on accessing treatment see our page on seeking help for a mental health problem in Hong Kong.

If you’re finding it hard to access support, our page on overcoming barriers has some suggestions that could help too.

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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.

What treatments could help?

What treatments could help? 

Everyone has their own response to trauma. The treatment you are offered will depend on your particular symptoms and diagnosis (if you have one) and on your own unique needs. What helps is different person to person, and can change over time, so keeping an open mind and exploring different options can be useful. 

This section covers: 

  • talking therapies 
  • arts and creative therapies 
  • medication 
  • crisis services 
  • accessing treatment 

Talking therapies 

There are different types of talking therapies but they are all designed to give you space to explore difficult feelings and experiences with a trained professional. 

Different people find different types of therapy helpful for trauma – there isn't one tried and tested approach. Research has shown that the relationship you have with your therapist is particularly important, regardless of the type of therapy they practise. 

"I learned through therapy that I actually probably did survive because I used those coping behaviours, [which] were damaging, but they were the only ones I knew at the time." 

Types of therapy some people find helpful include: 

  • Body-focused therapies, which address how trauma affects your body as well as your mind.
  • Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR), which involves making rhythmic eye movements while recalling a traumatic event and is most commonly used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Find out more on the The EMDR Association of Hong Kong website.
  • Trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy, which is a form of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) specifically adapted for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Find out more in our pages on CBT.
  • Cognitive analytic therapy (CAT), which looks at how past events and relationships can affect how you think, feel and act, bringing together ideas from several different therapies.
  • Schema therapy, which helps address unmet needs and difficult beliefs about yourself. This can include working through the effects of trauma.

Find out more on our pages on talking therapy and counselling, including tips on how to get the most from therapy.

The Department of Justice includes guidelines for vulnerable witnesses, including special accommodations to make you feel more comfortable.  

If you have been the victim of sexual violence Rainlily offers free legal advice and support during judicial precedings. 

Arts and creative therapies 

Arts and creative therapies are treatments which involve using arts-based activities like art, music or drama in a therapeutic environment, with the support of a trained professional. You don't need to have done these activities before, or have any particular skills or knowledge. 

Some people say they find these sorts of therapies helpful because they provide ways of addressing painful feelings and difficult experiences without using words. This can include experiences of trauma. Find out more on the Hong Kong Association of Art Therapists website. 

Medication 

Some people find medication helpful in managing mental health problems that may be linked to trauma. Which type of drug you are offered will depend on the specific mental health problems or symptoms you're experiencing. 

Before you decide to take any medication, you should make sure you have all the facts you need to feel confident about your decision. For guidance on what you might want to ask your doctor about any drug before you take it, including your right to refuse medication, see our information on psychiatric medication. 

"A lot of my trauma centers around my gender and how other people perceive me. Finding good, supportive mental health professionals has really helped me understand how and why certain things affect me in specific ways." 

Crisis services 

Crisis services can be helpful if you're going through a mental health crisis. For example: 

  • The Samaritans Hong Kong (multilingual hotline: 2896 0000) or The Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong (Chinese hotline: 2389 2222)
  • Local support services may be available in your area, including day services, drop- in sessions or issue-specific support. 
  • Crisis teams can support you at home during a mental health crisis. 
  • Crisis houses offer intensive, short-term support to help you manage a mental health crisis in a residential setting (rather than in a hospital). 

For more information, see our pages on what to do in a crisis. 

Accessing treatment 

Here are some ways you could access treatment and support: 

  • Contacting your doctor. 
  • Self-referral. Some areas run services which you can contact directly to refer yourself for talking therapy. Your doctor might give you details.
  • Specialist organisations. See our useful contacts page for organisations that may offer therapy or other support for trauma or be able to put you in touch with local services. 
  • Private therapists. Finding a private therapist is another option some people choose to explore. Find out more on our page on seeking help in Hong Kong 

"In my experience, understanding the how and why makes me feel empowered to be able to adapt my behaviour or environment to make it much less stressful and anxiety inducing." 

To find out about treatments for particular conditions, see our mental health A-Z.

What if I'm not offered the right type of treatment? 

If you don’t feel like you are offered treatment that is right for you, you could talk to the provider and explain this to them. If that doesn’t work you could make a complaint. 

If receiving the wrong kind of care has caused you harm you might have a claim for clinical negligence. For more, see the Community Legal Information Centre for legal information about medical negligence. For this you would need to show that a healthcare professional failed in their duty to take care of you, and you experienced damage or loss as a result of that failure. 

For more information on accessing treatment see our page on seeking help for a mental health problem in Hong Kong.

If you're finding it hard to access support, our page on overcoming barriers has some suggestions that could help too.