Aussies are gripped by trauma, and it’s being swept under the rug

Trauma affects a large amount of people, yet it is often neglected from mainstream discourse, which is a disservice to those who go through it.

Mental health has become a pillar of relatability for a wide range of people in our society because so many people struggle with it. Trauma, in a lot of ways, directly ties in to our mental health and wellbeing.

In fact, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, it’s estimated that 75 per cent of Australian adults have experienced a traumatic event at some point in their life. So, what is trauma and why does it have such a grip on us?

Any event that involves exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence has the potential to be traumatic. The trauma experienced can be of a physical and/or mental nature, and not everyone will respond in the same way.

A well-known trauma-related mental illness is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a condition that can be diagnosed when fear, anxiety and memories of a traumatic event persist. Research suggests that for Australians, the most common traumatic events are:

• Experiencing an unexpected death of a close loved one.
• Witnessing a person critically injured or killed, or finding a body.
• Being in a life-threatening car accident.

For workers especially, constantly having pressures and stress from your job can enable that trauma to consist and even worsen. It’s something that’s often not talked about in terms of work-life wellbeing and other common mental health discussions.

HR Leader recently spoke to Dr Cathy Kezelman, president of the Blue Knot Foundation, who offered insight into the societal perceptions of trauma and its link with mental health.

“It has been good to see a greater focus on mental health in the workplace, and it’s now time to make the connection between trauma and mental health. People who have experienced trauma often struggle with mental distress and a range of challenges. It is about recognising how this may play out in the workplace and knowing that people’s reactions make sense in the context of their traumatic experiences,” Kezelman said.

Kezelman used an example of the pandemic, which had a damning effect on a wide range of people for numerous reasons. Whether it was health issues, isolation or fear, the pandemic was a tough time for everyone.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, the whole world lived with trauma. We also saw organisations and businesses pull together and offer support to their workforces often through incredibly challenging times,” she said.

“COVID-19 was a crisis which was front and centre, but with 70 per cent of people experiencing a traumatic event in their lifetime and more than one in four of the adult population experiencing complex trauma, trauma should always be front and centre.”

Workplaces and organisations have a unique role in this, as when it comes to time spent, work often takes up the majority of someone’s daily activities. If people can garner that support through their trauma journey from their organisation, then it could have a lasting impact.

“Given the time we all spend at work, organisations and businesses need to shine a light on the effects of trauma and start to focus on the difference they can make to those who work with them and, in turn, to their own cultures,” Kezelman concluded.