Reactions to trauma at the community level

To get to know the strengths and challenges of each neighbourhood, researchers interviewed 17 staff members working in the four neighbourhoods in the summer of 2015. [...] Instead, they are repeated, and become more of a ‘continuous stressor’ that can have complex, cumulative effects on those living in the affected communities, and surrounding areas.3 A growing body of research is looking at the connection between trauma and a range of health and wellbeing outcomes at the individual and group levels.4 Holistic approaches like the one used in this PQCHC study look at [...] Figure 2: Using the Iceberg Model to Show the Relationship Between Personal Trauma, Community Trauma, and Connectedness and Wellbeing 7 Perceptions of Neighbourhood: Belonging and Safety Our “way in” to the interview was to ask people to share the first words that come to mind when they think about their neighbourhood; what are they proud of; and what makes them feel safe. [...] In some cases events bring people out of their homes to the Community House, and then together they can mourn and deal with things.” What Helps to Explain Reactions Participants often explained their reactions in relation to the type of traumatic incident (e.g. [...] A few (4-5/20) had a vision for where they want their neighbourhood to go, and identified healing from trauma as the key to their success as individuals, and as a community: “We need to focus on the roots: for community to be safer, we need to understand the issues with the parents – drinking etc.