Trauma-Informed Care
Trauma impacts the long term physical, mental, and behavioural health of individuals. Research shows that trauma can be experienced individually, organizationally, historically, and epi-genetically. Unresolved trauma can lead to chronic stress, difficulty building safe and trusting relationships, emotional and cognitive dysregulation, and negative impacts on physical and mental health.
Virginia Garcia’s Mission is to provide high quality, comprehensive health care to members of our community who experience barriers to care. This means that VG staff, providers, and leadership regularly interact with patients who have experienced trauma and who experience the lasting effects of that trauma. Staff, providers, and leadership are at risk for experiencing secondary and vicarious traumatization in addition to potentially having their own lived experience of trauma.
As an organization that provides Primary, Dental, and Mental/Behavioural Health Care it is necessary that VGMHC recognize and understand the widespread prevalence and impact of trauma, both on our patients and organizationally. VGMHC must provide care and a workplace that is reflective rather than reactive. In doing so we avoid re-traumatization and foster resilience through an ongoing commitment to learning, reflection, and practice of TI principles
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