Addressing the Hidden Epidemic of Child and Adolescent Trauma | Emma Barrett | TEDxFulbrightSydney

it’s just so overwhelming the memories

it’s just so overwhelming the memories keep flooding back the booze doesn’t

keep flooding back the booze doesn’t

keep flooding back the booze doesn’t help anymore my whole life has been torn

help anymore my whole life has been torn

help anymore my whole life has been torn apart let’s imagine Mary for a moment

apart let’s imagine Mary for a moment

apart let’s imagine Mary for a moment from a very young age

from a very young age

from a very young age Mary witnessed her father physically

Mary witnessed her father physically

Mary witnessed her father physically abusing her mother on numerous occasions

abusing her mother on numerous occasions

abusing her mother on numerous occasions he would come home drunk start arguments

he would come home drunk start arguments

he would come home drunk start arguments start pushing and shoving start punching

start pushing and shoving start punching

start pushing and shoving start punching and kicking Mary remembers running to

and kicking Mary remembers running to

and kicking Mary remembers running to hide at these times she was so terrified

hide at these times she was so terrified

hide at these times she was so terrified so scared and so helpless I should have

so scared and so helpless I should have

so scared and so helpless I should have done something to help she says I should

done something to help she says I should

done something to help she says I should have helped my mum during her teens Mary

have helped my mum during her teens Mary

have helped my mum during her teens Mary moved out of home and things got a

moved out of home and things got a

moved out of home and things got a little better for her she met a nice guy

little better for her she met a nice guy

little better for her she met a nice guy and they soon moved in together she says

and they soon moved in together she says

and they soon moved in together she says at the time she started drinking a bit

at the time she started drinking a bit

at the time she started drinking a bit of alcohol and smoking pot just to

of alcohol and smoking pot just to

of alcohol and smoking pot just to socialize or relax with friends but it

socialize or relax with friends but it

socialize or relax with friends but it was never a problem for her then she

was never a problem for her then she

was never a problem for her then she says at some point her partner’s

says at some point her partner’s

says at some point her partner’s behavior became quite controlling and

behavior became quite controlling and

behavior became quite controlling and this controlling behavior soon turned

this controlling behavior soon turned

this controlling behavior soon turned abusive so for a period of up to three

abusive so for a period of up to three

abusive so for a period of up to three years Mary was physically mentally and

years Mary was physically mentally and

years Mary was physically mentally and sexually abused by this person mary has

sexually abused by this person mary has

sexually abused by this person mary has difficulty recalling these these events

difficulty recalling these these events

difficulty recalling these these events because she says she starts to drink

because she says she starts to drink

because she says she starts to drink quite heavily then and and smokes a lot

quite heavily then and and smokes a lot

quite heavily then and and smokes a lot of pot in order to cope with the

of pot in order to cope with the

of pot in order to cope with the situation she does remember however

situation she does remember however

situation she does remember however being able to escape this destructive

being able to escape this destructive

being able to escape this destructive relationship she moves out of the area

relationship she moves out of the area

relationship she moves out of the area and starts a new life elsewhere she

and starts a new life elsewhere she

and starts a new life elsewhere she seeks some help for her alcohol and her

seeks some help for her alcohol and her

seeks some help for her alcohol and her drug use and manages to cut down on and

drug use and manages to cut down on and

drug use and manages to cut down on and off for a number of years she also meets

off for a number of years she also meets

off for a number of years she also meets the man who was to become her husband

the man who was to become her husband

the man who was to become her husband and has two children with him Mary

and has two children with him Mary

and has two children with him Mary doesn’t know how or why but in the past

doesn’t know how or why but in the past

doesn’t know how or why but in the past year she started getting really vivid

year she started getting really vivid

year she started getting really vivid flashbacks of what she’d witnessed as a

flashbacks of what she’d witnessed as a

flashbacks of what she’d witnessed as a child and what she’d experienced as a

child and what she’d experienced as a

child and what she’d experienced as a teenager she also has difficulty

teenager she also has difficulty

teenager she also has difficulty sleeping has nightmares every night and

sleeping has nightmares every night and

sleeping has nightmares every night and has really intense physiological

has really intense physiological

has really intense physiological reactions when she’s reminded of the

reactions when she’s reminded of the

reactions when she’s reminded of the trauma so when someone sneaks up behind

trauma so when someone sneaks up behind

trauma so when someone sneaks up behind her or when she’s watching TV

her or when she’s watching TV

her or when she’s watching TV she can start to shake and

she can start to shake and

she can start to shake and uncontrollably she also describes

uncontrollably she also describes

uncontrollably she also describes feelings of shame and guilt associated

feelings of shame and guilt associated

feelings of shame and guilt associated with the trauma and as a result is

with the trauma and as a result is

with the trauma and as a result is drinking a lot drinking up to a bottle

drinking a lot drinking up to a bottle

drinking a lot drinking up to a bottle of vodka a day and this has had a

of vodka a day and this has had a

of vodka a day and this has had a significant impact on her life and in

significant impact on her life and in

significant impact on her life and in particular an impact on her husband and

particular an impact on her husband and

particular an impact on her husband and children to put it simply Mary was at

children to put it simply Mary was at

children to put it simply Mary was at her worst when she came to us for help

her worst when she came to us for help

her worst when she came to us for help I’ll come back to Mary in a moment now

I’ll come back to Mary in a moment now

I’ll come back to Mary in a moment now this story may resonate quite strongly

this story may resonate quite strongly

this story may resonate quite strongly with some of you here tonight and it may

with some of you here tonight and it may

with some of you here tonight and it may have even brought up some difficult or

have even brought up some difficult or

have even brought up some difficult or uncomfortable emotions for you it may

uncomfortable emotions for you it may

uncomfortable emotions for you it may relate directly to you or directly to

relate directly to you or directly to

relate directly to you or directly to someone you know

someone you know

someone you know now this isn’t surprising given how

now this isn’t surprising given how

now this isn’t surprising given how common trauma is traumas like sexual

common trauma is traumas like sexual

common trauma is traumas like sexual abuse physical abuse natural disasters

abuse physical abuse natural disasters

abuse physical abuse natural disasters or motor vehicle accidents are all a lot

or motor vehicle accidents are all a lot

or motor vehicle accidents are all a lot more common than we think

more common than we think

more common than we think in fact it’s highly likely that the

in fact it’s highly likely that the

in fact it’s highly likely that the person sitting next to you at work or

person sitting next to you at work or

person sitting next to you at work or sitting next to you on a bus or or

sitting next to you on a bus or or

sitting next to you on a bus or or standing next to you in in a queue at a

standing next to you in in a queue at a

standing next to you in in a queue at a shopping center has experienced traumas

shopping center has experienced traumas

shopping center has experienced traumas just like these during their childhood

just like these during their childhood

just like these during their childhood or adolescence child and adolescent

or adolescence child and adolescent

or adolescence child and adolescent trauma has been described as an epidemic

trauma has been described as an epidemic

trauma has been described as an epidemic a hidden epidemic but I come here

a hidden epidemic but I come here

a hidden epidemic but I come here tonight with some good news in line with

tonight with some good news in line with

tonight with some good news in line with tonight’s theme we now have the

tonight’s theme we now have the

tonight’s theme we now have the knowledge to address the hidden epidemic

knowledge to address the hidden epidemic

knowledge to address the hidden epidemic of trauma with compassion we can make

of trauma with compassion we can make

of trauma with compassion we can make sure that this knowledge is accessible

sure that this knowledge is accessible

sure that this knowledge is accessible to the people who need it

to the people who need it

to the people who need it it’s stories just like Mary’s that I’ve

it’s stories just like Mary’s that I’ve

it’s stories just like Mary’s that I’ve heard from over a hundred men and women

heard from over a hundred men and women

heard from over a hundred men and women seeking treatment for alcohol or drug

seeking treatment for alcohol or drug

seeking treatment for alcohol or drug use problems

use problems

use problems I’ve been overwhelmingly moved and

I’ve been overwhelmingly moved and

I’ve been overwhelmingly moved and privileged to hear such deeply personal

privileged to hear such deeply personal

privileged to hear such deeply personal stories stories that people have secrets

stories stories that people have secrets

stories stories that people have secrets that people have held onto so tightly

that people have held onto so tightly

that people have held onto so tightly for so many years for most people who

for so many years for most people who

for so many years for most people who experience trauma they do recover after

experience trauma they do recover after

experience trauma they do recover after some months however for others trauma

some months however for others trauma

some months however for others trauma can have a lifelong debilitating impact

can have a lifelong debilitating impact

can have a lifelong debilitating impact on their lives

on their lives

on their lives and impetus

and impetus

and impetus Keela if the trauma is experienced

Keela if the trauma is experienced

Keela if the trauma is experienced during younger years my research has

during younger years my research has

during younger years my research has shown that for people who experience

shown that for people who experience

shown that for people who experience trauma before the age of 17 they’re up

trauma before the age of 17 they’re up

trauma before the age of 17 they’re up to four times more likely to experience

to four times more likely to experience

to four times more likely to experience mental health disorders later in life

mental health disorders later in life

mental health disorders later in life mental health disorders like depression

mental health disorders like depression

mental health disorders like depression anxiety and post-traumatic stress

anxiety and post-traumatic stress

anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder in order to cope with really

disorder in order to cope with really

disorder in order to cope with really intrusive and distressing and painful

intrusive and distressing and painful

intrusive and distressing and painful thoughts and feelings

thoughts and feelings

thoughts and feelings many people use alcohol or use drugs in

many people use alcohol or use drugs in

many people use alcohol or use drugs in order to medicate or numb these feelings

order to medicate or numb these feelings

order to medicate or numb these feelings the problem with this that is that like

the problem with this that is that like

the problem with this that is that like Mary they can then develop an alcohol or

Mary they can then develop an alcohol or

Mary they can then develop an alcohol or drug use disorder in addition to their

drug use disorder in addition to their

drug use disorder in addition to their mental health disorder and with that

mental health disorder and with that

mental health disorder and with that comes a whole new raft of challenges and

comes a whole new raft of challenges and

comes a whole new raft of challenges and difficulties for the individual but as I

difficulties for the individual but as I

difficulties for the individual but as I said we now have the knowledge we now

said we now have the knowledge we now

said we now have the knowledge we now know what works in the treatment of

know what works in the treatment of

know what works in the treatment of co-occurring mental health disorders and

co-occurring mental health disorders and

co-occurring mental health disorders and drug and alcohol use disorders and

drug and alcohol use disorders and

drug and alcohol use disorders and that’s integrated treatment

that’s integrated treatment

that’s integrated treatment traditionally what we’ve done is not

traditionally what we’ve done is not

traditionally what we’ve done is not treat the individual as a whole

treat the individual as a whole

treat the individual as a whole basically we’ve asked them to cut down

basically we’ve asked them to cut down

basically we’ve asked them to cut down or quit their drug or alcohol use and

or quit their drug or alcohol use and

or quit their drug or alcohol use and then after some time expect them to seek

then after some time expect them to seek

then after some time expect them to seek help for their mental health symptoms

help for their mental health symptoms

help for their mental health symptoms elsewhere this separate siloed treatment

elsewhere this separate siloed treatment

elsewhere this separate siloed treatment approach really isn’t working as

approach really isn’t working as

approach really isn’t working as effectively as it could be and in fact

effectively as it could be and in fact

effectively as it could be and in fact we now know that in many cases the

we now know that in many cases the

we now know that in many cases the integrated treatment approach is much

integrated treatment approach is much

integrated treatment approach is much more effective so that’s treating the

more effective so that’s treating the

more effective so that’s treating the mental health disorder and the substance

mental health disorder and the substance

mental health disorder and the substance use disorder at the same time by the

use disorder at the same time by the

use disorder at the same time by the same clinician I mean it’s simple isn’t

same clinician I mean it’s simple isn’t

same clinician I mean it’s simple isn’t it it really shouldn’t be that

it it really shouldn’t be that

it it really shouldn’t be that groundbreaking but it has been and at

groundbreaking but it has been and at

groundbreaking but it has been and at the moment there’s a huge shift to this

the moment there’s a huge shift to this

the moment there’s a huge shift to this integrated treatment model

integrated treatment model

integrated treatment model internationally so we now have this

internationally so we now have this

internationally so we now have this knowledge we now know that integrated

knowledge we now know that integrated

knowledge we now know that integrated treatment works but this isn’t an issue

treatment works but this isn’t an issue

treatment works but this isn’t an issue that science alone can solve there’s

that science alone can solve there’s

that science alone can solve there’s still a missing piece to this puzzle and

still a missing piece to this puzzle and

still a missing piece to this puzzle and that piece is compassion many people

that piece is compassion many people

that piece is compassion many people don’t ask for help and many people don’t

don’t ask for help and many people don’t

don’t ask for help and many people don’t seek treatment in fact we know that only

seek treatment in fact we know that only

seek treatment in fact we know that only one in three Australians living with

one in three Australians living with

one in three Australians living with alcohol use disorder ever seek treatment

alcohol use disorder ever seek treatment

alcohol use disorder ever seek treatment so only

so only

so only one in three and among those that do it

one in three and among those that do it

one in three and among those that do it can take up to two decades before they

can take up to two decades before they

can take up to two decades before they first ask for help

first ask for help

first ask for help why is that when I’ve asked that

why is that when I’ve asked that

why is that when I’ve asked that question people have told me that it’s

question people have told me that it’s

question people have told me that it’s because they feel ashamed it’s because

because they feel ashamed it’s because

because they feel ashamed it’s because they don’t feel worthy of help they

they don’t feel worthy of help they

they don’t feel worthy of help they don’t feel they deserve help and they

don’t feel they deserve help and they

don’t feel they deserve help and they worry about being judged and sadly this

worry about being judged and sadly this

worry about being judged and sadly this is reflected by many views in society

is reflected by many views in society

is reflected by many views in society and so this is where compassion can play

and so this is where compassion can play

and so this is where compassion can play a key role a key role in encouraging

a key role a key role in encouraging

a key role a key role in encouraging people to ask for help of course

people to ask for help of course

people to ask for help of course it can be difficult to care for someone

it can be difficult to care for someone

it can be difficult to care for someone if you don’t know their story or if you

if you don’t know their story or if you

if you don’t know their story or if you don’t understand why they’re in the

don’t understand why they’re in the

don’t understand why they’re in the situation that they’re in but think back

situation that they’re in but think back

situation that they’re in but think back to how you felt when I told you about

to how you felt when I told you about

to how you felt when I told you about Mary’s story and in particular when I

Mary’s story and in particular when I

Mary’s story and in particular when I told you about Mary as a child

told you about Mary as a child

told you about Mary as a child vulnerable scared and blaming herself

vulnerable scared and blaming herself

vulnerable scared and blaming herself it’s those feelings that I’m talking

it’s those feelings that I’m talking

it’s those feelings that I’m talking about tapping into those kinds of

about tapping into those kinds of

about tapping into those kinds of feelings when we see someone in need

feelings when we see someone in need

feelings when we see someone in need someone distressed someone worthy of her

someone distressed someone worthy of her

someone distressed someone worthy of her of help and it’s as simple as that just

of help and it’s as simple as that just

of help and it’s as simple as that just building that human connection imagine

building that human connection imagine

building that human connection imagine how powerful that could have been for

how powerful that could have been for

how powerful that could have been for Mary if she sensed that someone

Mary if she sensed that someone

Mary if she sensed that someone understood her or if she felt that

understood her or if she felt that

understood her or if she felt that someone thought she was worthy of help I

someone thought she was worthy of help I

someone thought she was worthy of help I believe she would have sought treatment

believe she would have sought treatment

believe she would have sought treatment much much sooner if we all can work

much much sooner if we all can work

much much sooner if we all can work together to build a higher level of

together to build a higher level of

together to build a higher level of compassion many more people will ask for

compassion many more people will ask for

compassion many more people will ask for help and many more people will access

help and many more people will access

help and many more people will access these effective integrated treatments I

these effective integrated treatments I

these effective integrated treatments I believe only then can we truly address

believe only then can we truly address

believe only then can we truly address the hidden epidemic of child and

the hidden epidemic of child and

the hidden epidemic of child and adolescent trauma thank you