Housing & Social Work Services

Trauma and its effects on health – how we work with it in teenagers

Ailsa ClunieHealth Liaison Officer

Iain MacaulayService Manager

Brain Development

Responsibilities of Brain

• CORTEX

• LIMBIC

• DIENCEPHALON

• BRAINSTEM

• Abstract thought• Concrete Thought• Affiliation/reward• "Attachment"• Sexual Behaviour• Emotional Reactivity• "Arousal"• Appetite/Satiety• Blood Pressure• Heart Rate• Body Temperature• Sleep• Motor Regulation

Things to think about

• Age of Adoption

• Money Spent

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

Money spent on change behaviour

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

AGE

CA

PA

CIT

Y TO C

HA

NG

E IN

%

Definition of Attachment

We are all born relational with attachment seeking behaviours such as crying, clinging, imitation and smiling; these are designed to keep carers close ensuring our needs for survival, safety and sensitive care are met. The process of how and who we attach to in our early years (0-3) is crucial as to how we grow and develop through childhood and into adulthood – neurologically, physically, emotionally, socially and psychologically. What happens to us in the womb also contributes to our resilience or vulnerability.

Stats/ ACE Study/ Harry Burns

• X4 lung cancer

• X3 Heart disease

• X6 Asthma

• X12 Substance misuse

• X8 Suicide

• Pregnancy (25%<16, 50%<18

• (Forgotten children report)

Health related

behaviours

Opportunity to escape poverty, decent housing,

social networks, self esteem and sense of

control

Consistent parenting, safe, nurturing early years, supportive education

Interventions

• Nurture these children

• Try to understand the behaviours before punishment or consequences

• Parent these children based on emotional age

• Be consistent, predictable and repetitive

• Model and teach appropriate social behaviours

• Listen to and talk with these children

• Have realistic expectations of these children

• Be patient with the child's progress and with yourself

• Sense of Mastery

Interventions Cont’d

• Stress Management

• Exercise

• Music/ Dance

• Sleep

• Touch

Massage/ Touch

• -Massage is a way to create balance in our nervous system

• -Touch is a kind of communication.• -New ways of touching gives contact and closeness

which can help children feel valued and worth loving• -Massage can help relieve tension and reduce stress.

( physical and psychological)• -Improves circulation• Improves elimination ( toxins)• Reduces pain• Improves body awareness

Most Important

• Increases the level of Oxytocin ( the peace and calming hormone)

• Decreases the level of Cortisol ( the stress hormone)

The Barriers

The offender population shows:• 10 times the level of learning disability compared to the

general population• High level of care leavers (25-50%)• 7 times the level of head injury• 74% have communication difficulties • 20% have severe communication difficulties• By age 3 a 30 million word gap exists between the most

disadvantaged and the best supported children• We expect them to behave like adults!

Avoid

Attack Self

Withdraw

Attack Others

Achieving Desistance

• Maturation, as young people develop Offending and Chaotic lifestyle stops (gender, attitude and understanding)

• Social Bonds, as ties to society develop offending stops (social capital) •Narrative, “I want to stop” how offenders view their own position (redemption vs condemnation)

•Engagement – Mainstream adult communication models will often not work (understanding, word gap, brain injury, learning disability)

•

Working with trauma

Accountability

Support

A R

F S

Stress Reaction

Submit

Fight Flight

Withdraw

Don’t Fight

•

Further Reading

• SAIA. ( Scottish attachment in action)

• The Connected Baby

• Dr. Bruce Perry (Child Trauma Centre)

• Dr. Harry Burns