05/08/2021 - Vital help for children to cope with trauma

Community Investment Fund case study - CHUMS

Hospital can be a disturbing environment for anyone, and for nine-year-old Jessica (not her real name) a visit led to serious and long-term problems that needed expert help to resolve.

While visiting hospital, Jessica witnessed a highly distressing scene which affected her so deeply that she developed post-traumatic stress symptoms. Her anxiety escalated to affecting her school attendance, causing her sleep disturbance and separation anxiety – and eventually, when she became upset or anxious, she started to self-harm. 

These issues have now been resolved thanks to Jessica’s referral to CHUMS, a mental health and emotional wellbeing service for children and young people in Luton and across the Eastern region who have been affected by distressing events such as traumatic bereavement, sexual abuse, domestic abuse, assault or witnessing an accident. 

Funding from LLAL, which has been provided for the last six years, is devoted specifically to supporting non-bereavement trauma cases in Luton.

In Jessica’s case the intervention equipped her with strategies to deal with her emotions, such as breathing techniques, positive self-talk, grounding and relaxation exercises.

She began to explore and talk about her experience and developed an awareness of how to identify and challenge her negative emotions.

Happily, Jessica noticed a significant decrease in symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress, to the extent that she was eventually able to say ‘I have stopped worrying’.

Her mother’s view on the care received was that the therapist “worked brilliantly with my daughter”, and that Jessica was no longer as affected by the incident and much less anxious in general.

CHUMS provides individual treatment using a range of therapies and approaches. Referrals last year ranged in age from five to 18 years, and questionnaires show significant improvements in consistently reducing stress, anxiety and depression.

A programme for small groups of peer-aged children who have been affected by similar traumatic experiences has also recently been developed, aiming to promote empathy and reduce feelings of stigma or isolation associated with their experiences. 

Polly Baddeley is Operations Manager of CHUMS Trauma Service, which is directly funded by financial support from LLAL. She explained that they provide individual treatment for children affected by trauma, using a range of therapies and approaches. 

She said: “Through our support, children are able to express and make sense of their experiences and emotions. Nightmares and flashbacks reduce, they are able to tolerate memories of past adversity and manage day-to-day life more calmly and positively.

“The results are children engaging more with school, family and friends and having energy for hobbies and interests again.”