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Childhood Trauma and PTSD
These animations have been produced with the involvement of young people themselves, and are designed to help young people and the adults around them recognise the signs of post-traumatic stress disorder. They also suggest ways of coping with scary memories, explain the science around the best treatments, and answer any worries you might have about getting support.
What is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?
Many young people will go through trauma – where they felt very scared for themselves or for someone else. Sometimes, this can lead to mental health difficulties such as post-traumatic stress disorder (or PTSD). In this video you will learn about PTSD – what it might look like or feel like, the main symptoms, and where you might go if you need help or support.
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What is trauma-focused CBT?
Trauma-focused cognitive behaviour therapies are our best-evidenced way to help young people to overcome post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Learn about what trauma-focused CBT is and how it can help someone to face and overcome their traumas.
Coping with scary and distressing memories
When young people go through traumas one of the hardest things to deal with can be their memories of what happened. This video gives brief advice on what you can do to help cope with memories that are very scary or distressing, and where you can turn to for support.
Absolutely not: and other thoughts you might have about mental health support
After you've been through very frightening experiences, asking for help and getting mental health support can feel scary or overwhelming. Sometimes it might feel like there is no one that could possibly help. This video talks about getting mental health support after trauma, and why, even if it feels hard, it can be helpful.
The development of our PTSD resources for young people has been a true team effort. First and foremost, I want to sincerely thank the many young people who have contributed to these animations – from the ideas and scripts, through to animation style and voiceovers. Their contribution has been invaluable. I particularly want to thank the care-experienced young people who have guided this and many of my other projects. I am so grateful for their input.
We have also been incredibly fortunate to receive feedback from many leading experts in the child trauma and PTSD field. I am hugely grateful for the input of Prof Richard Meiser-Stedman (University of East Anglia), Dr Patrick Smith (King's College London), Prof Paul Stallard (University of Bath), Prof Bill Yule (Children & War Foundation), and Dr David Trickey (UK Trauma Council), who all inputted into the scripts. This project has largely been made possible by their pioneering work in the child trauma and PTSD field, and commitment to improving the lives of trauma-exposed young people. Many thanks also to the broader ADaPT Trial team, from which this project stems, including Prof John Macleod (University of Bristol) and Dr Timothy Clarke (Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust) for their edits, as well as to Dr Rosie McGuire and Davin Schmidt for their project coordination and input. Thank you also to our animator, Paddy Wright, for his patience, guidance, and commitment to the project.
Many thanks also to the UK Trauma Council for their support for this project. My particular thanks go to Holly Baine, Liz Lee, Beck Ferrari, Dr Ruth Roberts and Prof Eamon McCrory for their support and guidance, and to the many members of the UK Trauma Council who provided feedback on the scripts. Thank you also to Dušan Tomic for his creative input.
Finally, thank you to our funders who have been so supportive and encouraging of this project. This work was funded by the National Institute for Health and Social Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) network, and particularly funding from ARC West, South West Peninsula ARC (PenARC), and ARC North East North Cumbria (ARC NENC).
Dr Rachel Hiller
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Cognitive Therapy for PTSD
Training videos for mental health professionals, demonstrating how to work through key stages of Cognitive Therapy for PTSD (CT-PTSD) with children and young people.
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Evaluation of UKTC - take part
Researchers from the University College London (UCL), on behalf of the UK Trauma Council (UKTC) are seeking to evaluate UKTC resources.
We are seeking feedback from professionals who work with trauma and have used the UKTC resources.
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Critical Incidents in Educational Communities
Childhood Trauma and the Brain
Coronavirus and Trauma
Complex trauma
PTSD and Complex PTSD
Research Round Up
Research Practice Focus
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