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Intergenerational Trauma and Its Relationship to Mental Health Care: A Qualitative Inquiry

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Abstract

Intergenerational trauma is a discrete form of trauma which occurs when traumatic effects are passed across generations without exposure to the original event. This qualitative study aimed to explore how psychiatrists understand intergenerational trauma in respect to their practice, for the purposes of identifying interventions for addressing intergenerational trauma in public mental health services. Findings revealed that psychiatrists observe intergenerational trauma frequently in their roles and try to opportunistically promote awareness of trauma with adults, and refer families to external services for supportive interventions. They feel powerless when faced with directly intervening with intergenerational trauma and required restructuring of their roles to adequately address it in public settings. Findings have implications for training, advocacy and research on the relationship between trauma and mental illness. Alongside this, there is an indicated need for examination of how systems can ensure access to appropriate services once organisations become trauma-informed.

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Acknowledgements

This research is supported by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship. The authors wish to acknowledge the contribution of Dr Brenda Gladstone to the design of this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Nursing, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia

    Sophie Isobel

  2. Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

    Andrea McCloughen

  3. Monash University, School of Rural Health, Clayton, Australia

    Melinda Goodyear

  4. The Parenting Research Centre, East Melbourne, Australia

    Melinda Goodyear

  5. Australian Catholic University, Fitzroy, Australia

    Kim Foster

  6. Melbourne Health, NorthWestern Mental Health, Parkville, Australia

    Kim Foster

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  1. Sophie Isobel
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  2. Andrea McCloughen
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  3. Melinda Goodyear
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  4. Kim Foster
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Correspondence to Sophie Isobel.

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Isobel, S., McCloughen, A., Goodyear, M. et al. Intergenerational Trauma and Its Relationship to Mental Health Care: A Qualitative Inquiry. Community Ment Health J 57, 631–643 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-020-00698-1

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