Roundtable on Secondary Prevention of Trauma. Lessons from Trauma-Informed Practices in Europe

Session Submission Type: Roundtable

Abstract

Many people in today’s Europe are traumatized for a variety of reasons, such as violence, poverty, migration, health issues, and natural disasters. Secondary prevention focuses on preventing the worsening of an already existing condition (trauma) rather than preventing the initial trauma exposure or event itself. In this roundtable, we aim to discuss and offer practical advice concerning secondary prevention by introducing three Erasmus+ funded projects in Europe: 1) Post-traumatic integration. Low-level psychosocial support and intervention for refugees (PTI) (2017-19); 2) Trauma-informed practice for workers in public service settings (TIPS) (2021-23); 3) Trauma-informed practice for teachers, youth workers, and parents (TIP FOR KIDS) (2024-26).
We will present the products developed within these initiatives which are all accessible with an internet connection: (1) user-oriented guidelines, (2) a catalogue with a case studies collection, (3) a resource pack, (4) an interactive e-platform, and (5) a mobile application.
We will explore the content of these materials, focusing on key concepts such as post-traumatic stress symptoms and trauma-informed practice. Trauma-informed practices shift the narrative from asking, "What's wrong with you?" to "What happened to you?".
We will highlight the practical applicability of these resources in terms of transfer of knowledge and competencies related to the acquisition of soft skills and conflict management, principles for reducing stress in service settings, and the importance of self-care. These resources aim to provide an enhanced awareness of trauma and its signs, and other practical insights and strategies that can be applied in real-world settings, supporting professionals in fostering a more trauma-informed approach in their work.
We will reflect on the relevance of these resources as tools of secondary prevention. We will discuss their potential in contributing to prevent violence, re-traumatization and vicarious trauma in different public service sectors that come in contact with traumatized populations.

Subtopic

• Topic 4: Victimology / Clinical Victimology (Victimology WG)

Chair

• Stephan Parmentier, KU Leuven

Discussants

• Marina Letica Crepulja, University of Rijeka

• Mina Rauschenbach, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

• Victoria Wozniak-Cole, KU Leuven

• Laura Hein, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

Individual Presentations

• Roundtable on Secondary Prevention of Trauma. Lessons from Trauma-Informed Practices in Europe - Stephan Parmentier, KU Leuven; Marina Letica Crepulja, University of Rijeka; Mina Rauschenbach, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven; Victoria Wozniak-Cole, KU Leuven; Laura Hein, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven