Embedding trauma-informed practice in maternity care in Scotland
- Farrow, Lorraine
- McEwan, Thomas
Author
Lorraine Farrow, Senior Educator, Women, Children, Young People and Families, NHS Education for Scotland, UK. Email:[email protected]
Co-author
Thomas McEwan, Head of Programme, Women, Children, Young People and Families, NHS Education for Scotland, UK.
Figure
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For more information on this topic see MIC database search packs: PN69 Debriefing and post traumatic stress disorder; MS54 Women with mental health disorders; P198 Perinatal mental health.
Summary
Amid growing international understanding that experiencing trauma and adversity are significant risk factors for poorer health and reduced life chances, the Scottish government committed to developing a trauma-informed (TI) workforce and nation.
However, a maternity workforce national scoping exercise highlighted that there was a knowledge and confidence gap, with a desire to learn and respond more effectively to the psychological trauma experiences of women and families (). This led to the Scottish government supporting trauma-informed maternity services pathfinder projects, located in two integrated joint board areas. These had the overarching aim of strengthening understanding of what further support is required to implement and embed sustainable models of TI practice in maternity services.