‘Mental health in the community’ is a series of six podcasts brought to you by the Mental Health Foundation and the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust.

What is this series about?

From 2016 to 2019 the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust ran the Mental Health Fellowships programme, funding individuals to travel abroad to learn more about how community-based solutions are being created to respond to some of today’s most pressing mental health challenges.

The Mental Health Foundation was the expert partner in this programme, helping to shape its aims, select the successful candidates and provide mentoring to the successful Fellows. In total, 59 Churchill Fellows were chosen to investigate best practice in 18 countries and bring back new evidence and ideas to create positive change in their profession, practice and communities in the UK.

This series of podcasts distils the key findings from this rich body of learning, and makes recommendations for policy and practice in the UK. Each episode focuses on an aspect of the Mental Health Fellowships’ overarching theme ‘community-based solutions’. There are also corresponding briefings for each of the categories below, available at www.mentalhealth.org.uk or www.wcmt.org.uk.

Episode 5: Trauma and Adversity: trauma-informed care

Who’s on the podcast today?

Trevor Barnes: Host, freelance journalist and BBC radio presenter.

Dr Karen Treisman: a clinical psychologist, trainer, and author, travelled to the USA to research international approaches to integrating adversity, culturally, and trauma-informed and responsive principles at a system-wide and organisational level.

Daniel Johnson: forensic psychologist and service manager at Kibble Education and Care Centre, a specialist provider of child and youth care services, travelled to the USA, Norway and Sweden to investigate how trauma-informed principles have been turned into tangible practice in young people’s residential care services.

What is the episode about?

This episode features details of a number of leading trauma-informed organisations delivering services in a variety of community-based contexts abroad.

We hear about Jasper Mountain, a large care, education and treatment centre in the Oregon forest, initially opened by a husband and wife who were practising therapists frustrated by the systems in which they worked. The main residential building is a castle, with a keep, large central hall and even a drawbridge. It has been built like this as children had said this was the structure they would prefer and in which they would feel most safe.

Need support?

 If you need someone to talk to then Samaritans are available on 116 123 (UK) for free, 24/7. They are there to talk to, listen and they won't judge or tell you what to do.

 C.A.L.M.: National helpline for men to talk about any troubles they are feeling. Call 0800 58 58 58 (UK). They are available 5pm-midnight 365 days a year.

 For support in a crisis, Text Shout to 85258. If you’re experiencing a personal crisis, are unable to cope and need support. Shout can help with urgent issues such as: Suicidal thoughts, abuse or assault, self-harm, bullying, relationship challenges.