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17 May 2024

The impact of major trauma on mental health

by Effat Ali and Emilia Catley

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It’s Mental Health Awareness Week, and we want to shed light on a crucial yet often overlooked issue: the impact of major physical trauma on mental health.


It's crucial to have open and honest conversations about the impact of trauma on mental health. This can help to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness and encourage those who are struggling to seek help. By raising awareness and providing education, we can create a more supportive environment for those who have been through major trauma.

Experiencing catastrophic injuries can have a lasting impact on a person's mental health. It can lead to anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), other mental health disorders. It's important those who have experienced trauma seek help and support to cope with the effects on their mental well-being.

Living with PTSD can be an isolating experience, especially for those who have been through major trauma. The impact of trauma can linger long after the event has passed, manifesting in intrusive memories, flashbacks, nightmares, and intense emotional reactions.

The Hidden Struggles

In just the past two months of our work across the Northern Care Alliance as Day One Caseworkers, it’s become clear that major trauma doesn’t just harm the body - it impacts relationships and mental stability. This can lead to relationship breakdowns for some patients. For others, the full impact of their trauma doesn’t hit until they’re discharged and start rehabilitation at home. It’s during this time that they begin to truly process their injuries.

The Challenge of Recovery

Rehabilitation is tough. Chronic pain, sleep disturbances, fatigue, medication side effects, and cognitive issues like difficulty concentrating and remembering make recovery incredibly challenging.

Providing trauma-informed care means understanding the impact of trauma on an individual's mental health and well-being. By creating a safe and supportive environment, individuals with PTSD can feel more comfortable seeking help and discussing their struggles.

Access to mental health services

Individuals with PTSD should have access to mental health services, including therapy, counselling, and medication if needed. It is important for individuals with PTSD and other mental health problems resulting from traumatic injuries to have a support system in place to help them cope with their symptoms.

Peer support and community resources

Peer support groups and community resources can play a crucial role in mental health wellbeing efforts for individuals with PTSD. Connecting with others who have similar experiences can provide a sense of belonging and understanding, which can help reduce feelings of isolation and hopelessness. Many of the people Day One has supported have found peer support helpful.

Our Role as Day One Caseworkers

We know how crucial it is to provide emotional support as we both have a background in mental health support. As Day One caseworkers, we offer counselling services and a peer support scheme, which connects patients with others who have faced similar struggles. We also support patients in the immediate aftermath of the incidents that caused their injuries. This includes support with employment, finances, legal matters, emergency funding that may be needed when patients are in hospital, and funding to aid recovery at home.

This approach has significantly boosted the wellbeing and recovery of our patients and their families.

Why It Matters

By sharing these insights, we hope to highlight the critical need for support systems for those recovering from major physical trauma. Emotional support is vital for true recovery. Let's continue to raise awareness and provide the support our patients need.


Effat and Emilia recently joined Day One as our Caseworkers working in partnership with the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, Greater Manchester. Find out more >>

Contact us if you need support from Day One after a major traumatic injury. We can help wherever you are in the country and for as long as you need us. Call 0300 303 5648 on weekdays, 9am – 5pm, or complete our self-referral form and someone will be in touch.

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