Strengthen individual and community awareness of trauma

Promoting a comprehensive understanding of adversity, trauma and healing at an individual and community level is vital for preventing and reducing the impact of trauma. Creating an environment that recognises trauma encourages both help-seeking and help-offering.

1

Develop and promote a shared language and common understanding of trauma that is
co-produced with people with a lived-living experience.

2

Encourage media reporting and communication on traumatic events and traumatic experiences that positively supports community awareness and reduces the impact of harmful content.

3

Enhance community awareness of trauma to improve understanding and recognition, and to encourage help-seeking and help-offering.

Address and actively challenge all types of stigma and discrimination

Stigma has a significant impact on mental health and wellbeing outcomes for people with lived-living experience of trauma. Stigma often serves as a barrier to seeking help, deterring those in need and isolating them from potential support. Widespread community education and open conversations about trauma can challenge misconceptions and stereotypes about trauma.

4

Build community capacity and capability to address discrimination and stigma in relation to alcohol and other drugs, mental ill-health, suicide and eating disorders.

5

Implement activities to address discrimination, challenge misconceptions and stereotypes about trauma through socially inclusive approaches across all health and human service provision contexts and settings.

Build safe, inclusive and respectful environments

Fostering healthy relationships and connections is fundamental to preventing and reducing the impact of trauma. Schools, communities, workplaces and families can all play a significant role in nurturing these connections, so every individual can access supportive and enriching relationships that contribute to their overall wellbeing.

6

Promote evidence-based, whole school approaches to student engagement and wellbeing that incorporate trauma-informed practice.

7

Enhance workplaces’ capability to identify, address and respond to workplace risks and hazards as early as possible, including compliance with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld) and the Managing the risk of psychosocial hazards at work Code of Practice 2022.

8

Improve trauma awareness and workplace capacity to prevent (where possible) and reduce primary and vicarious trauma in professions likely to respond directly to traumatic circumstances such as police, ambulance and fire services, emergency services, and corrective services officers.