TAKING ACTION Supporting those who have experienced
trauma
Rob PineauWhite Rock RCMP
Victim Services Coordinator
Who can be Traumatized
Any individual, anytime, anywhere
Families, friends, colleagues
Witnesses
Communities where individual(s) impacted
Cultures
Service Providers/Caregivers
Trauma and Victims of Crime Single Event – may experiencea single traumatic event
Compounding/Chronic Events – Event adds to past trauma, i.e.family violence, historical abuse, grief, or major life or work changes
Impact of trauma - will depend on factors such as duration/frequency, relation to person causing trauma, age
Aftermath of Traumatic EventPhysical Reactions
Fight/Flight/Freeze responseSleeping/eating disruptions
Cognitive ReactionsConfusion, tunnel vision, brain ‘fog’ Intrusive thoughts/images
Emotional ReactionsGuilt, anxiety, denial, anger….Grief, sorrow, frustration, shame….
What Can You Do?Assist the person by focusing on:
1. Respect and trust
2. Promote safety – physical and emotional
3. Strengths based perspective
4. Empathy and being non-judgemental
5. Validate difficult emotions
Remember, what happened to them was bad, they are not a bad person
What Can You Do?
6. Guide them to relevant information
7. Report or seek assistance from service providers
8. Sense of control in their lives
9. Self-care and return to ‘routines’
10. Be with them, rather than “do” for/to them
Encourage professional support where trauma reactions interfere with ability to cope effectively in daily living
Resources911 for emergency services
VictimLink 1-800-563-0808
Police-based Help for Victims of Crime and Trauma – Victims of all types of crime and trauma are assisted by more than 90 police-based victim services programs located in RCMP detachments and municipal police departments throughout B.C. – Call local detachment non-emergency, VictimLink or White Rock Victim Services – 778-593-3608
Community-based Help for Victims of Family and Sexual ViolenceB.C. has more than 60 community-based programs located throughout the province that assist victims of family and sexual violence. Community-based victim service programs are available whether or not the victim has reported the crime to police. Call VictimLink for agencies available in your area.