Well-being, physical and mental health: part 2. Responding to trauma
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Mental and physical health work together to support well-being, and never more importantly than when a patient experiences a sudden and devastating trauma. This article explores the interplay of mental and physical health in the context of acid attack burns to someone’s face. It explains trauma in event terms and how an understanding of types of psychological trauma can be drawn on to advance collaborative nursing practice in a burns unit. While nurses have been educated in separate disciplines, it is argued that working across the traditional divide can be advantageous in trauma situations. This is the second article in a series on ‘well-being, physical and mental health’.
Who is this resource for?
Explains what the component is for
This resource is aimed at nurses and nursing support workers across all settings and levels of practice, including students of health, social work and care professions.
Why you should read this article
to understand what is meant by the term 'trauma' and why it is problematic to conceive this solely in mental or physical health terms
to learn about the two psychological types of trauma and relate these to the role of the amygdala part of the brain
to understand the kinds of mental health problem that can represent a challenge to a patient's sense of security and well-being
to review the part played by a mental healthcare nurse in the acute phase of care for a patient with a facial burn
to understand the advantages of timely combined physical and mental healthcare interventions to support the longer-term well-being of the patient.
