Book review
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/AMHID-07-2022-074 |
| Published date | 21 October 2022 |
| Date | 21 October 2022 |
| Pages | 184-185 |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Learning & intellectual disabilities |
| Author | Gregg H. Rawlings |
Book review
Trauma and Intellectual
Disability: Acknowledgement,
Identification and Intervention
Edited by N. Beail, P. Frankish and
A. Skelly
Pavilion Publishing and Media Ltd
2021
ISBN: 978-914010-59-0.
Review DOI
10.1108/AMHID-07-2022-074
It has long been recognised
(though unfortunatelynot long
enough) that thereare high rates
of trauma within society,the effects of
which have far reaching
consequenceson many different
levels. This understandinghas been
influential in drivinghealthcare
services to providewhat has become
known as “trauma informedcare”,
which representsa shift in how we
interact withour service users. For
example, we are moving awayfrom
questions suchas, “What is wrong with
you?” and “What is your problem?”to
“What has happenedto you?”, “What
have you had to do to survive?”and
“How have you made senseof your
experiences?”.This has also provided
us with a greater understandingof
how some individualscan find
interventionsinfective or be
retraumatisedby the very care that we
provide in an effort to help and
alleviate theirsuffering. As this book
points out, servicesfor peoplewith an
ID have only recentlyaccepted the
need to provide traumainformed care,
with many grapplingwith how this can
actually be implementedin practice.
Indeed, the editorsexplain the aim of
this book is to addressthis gap and
act as a guide demonstratinghow
services for peoplewith an ID can
work in a trauma informed way.
The initial chapters, one to four, of this
book present the historical and current
thinking on how the impactof trauma in
people with an ID has been
conceptualised. In doing so, this helps
set the scene for why this approach to
care is needed in this population. Many
of the authors who have contributed to
the book apply a developmental
understandingof trauma,with the effects
of exposure to traumatic experiences
viewed as manifesting across the
individual’s lifespan and in a range of
daily domains, rather than a single
isolated event. The prevalence rates of
experiencing traumatic life events are
discussed, demonstrating how it is more
widespread in people with an ID
compared to the general population, and
as such, why this group may need
additional support. This is poignantly
illustrated in chapter two by an individual
account of a person with an ID
describing the challenges he has faced
in life and what he thinks needs to
change. Not only does this help highlight
the relevance, necessity and urgency of
providing trauma informed care in this
population, but it stirs a powerful feeling
in the reader that can often only come
from hearing from those with lived
experience. The only shame is that we do
not hear more from service users
throughout the book in their own words,
although authors generously reflect on
their experiences and provide case
vignettes illustrating concepts in practice.
From chapter fiveonward, the book
focuses on how servicesfor people
with an ID can deliver trauma informed
care, often groundingthis within NHS
settings and key policies.This
includes how to facilitateand
recognise whenclients are
communicatingverbal and non-verbal
signs of trauma, developformulations
in those presentingwith different
levels of disability,deliver psycho-
social and behaviouralinterventions
and undertake evaluations.This is
alongside authorsreflecting on the
impact of trauma informedcare on
staff, caregiversand family and
PAGE 184 jADVANCES IN MENTAL HEALTH AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES jVOL. 16 NO. 3 2022, pp. 184-185, ©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2044-1282 DOI 10.1108/AMHID-07-2022-074
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