Understanding life experiences in the Outer Hebrides

It is well recognised that our life experiences impact on our quality of life and experiences of adversity and trauma, especially if these occur during childhood, can change people’s lives.

NHS Western Isles and Outer Hebrides Alcohol & Drug Partnership are working together to ensure alcohol and drug treatment services staff have the appropriate knowledge and skills to apply trauma-informed practice in their everyday work.

Children who experience adversity and trauma are more likely in adulthood to experience poor physical and mental health, use substances, or be involved with criminal justice. Traumatic experiences can also occur in adulthood such as domestic abuse, sexual assault and accidents, and adversely impact on the person’s quality of life. Having good access to appropriate services can help individuals to address and overcome the difficulties stemming from such trauma. 

Services should be recovery oriented.  The Scottish Government’s Rights, Respect and Recovery Strategy are committed to ensuring that drug and alcohol treatment services have trauma informed approaches built into policy and procedures.  

Dr Maggie Watts, NHS Western Isles Director of Public Health and Vice Chairperson of the Outer Hebrides Alcohol and Drug Partnership, said “Everyone has a role to play in improving and shaping services to respond to the needs of survivors of trauma and abuse, and to use appropriate tools to make that difference.  We cannot all be experts, but everyone should have the confidence in their role to broach the subject of trauma and abuse and to know how to seek further help.  Part of this is to ensure the workforce delivering such services are fully supported and ensuring the wellbeing of staff to avoid burnout.”

Dr Alison Robertson, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Psychological Therapies Training Co-ordinator for NHS Western Isles has been delivering Trauma Awareness Sessions for staff working across the alcohol and drug treatment services. Further core and essential trauma training sessions at different practice levels are being planned locally to promote and implement a trauma informed culture and practice. 

If you would like further information, please contact the Outer Hebrides Alcohol and Drug Partnership Support Team on 01851 762022 or email wi.ohadp@nhs.scot