FAITH GROUP LEADERS AND TRAUMA

THE DIFFERENCE THAT CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE?

Authors

  • Paul Cavannagh Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline
  • Janet Foggie St Andrew’s Parish Church, Dundee
  • Alastair M. Hull NHS Tayside

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/hscc.v12i2.29

Keywords:

trauma, faith and belief group leaders, spiritual and religious care

Abstract

Traumatic events are very much a part of everyday life; they are neither new nor rare. The care of faith group members suffering from psychological trauma is a significant component of pastoral care and yet little attention has been paid to this complex area. This article details the results of a collaborative study between mental health and faith group leaders and between NHS Tayside and NHS Fife, which examines the role of faith and belief group leaders in working with people who have been subjected to trauma. The first part of this article details questions of interest to chaplains and faith group leaders, such as: the relationship between the faith group leaders and mental health personnel, and what training was available to faith and belief group leaders? Following completion of the study a consultation day was held by the Department of Spiritual Care in NHS Tayside (in November 2008) at which the collated results were presented. The faith group leaders, chaplains and health personnel who were present were able to give their responses to the results of the survey; those responses constitute the second part of this article.

Author Biographies

  • Paul Cavannagh, Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline

    Paul Cavannagh is Consultant Psychiatrist in community rehabilitation, Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline

  • Janet Foggie, St Andrew’s Parish Church, Dundee

    Janet Foggie has been recently appointed Minister of St Andrew’s Parish Church, Dundee

  • Alastair M. Hull, NHS Tayside

    Alastair M Hull is a Consultant Psychiatrist in Psychotherapy for NHS Tayside and Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Dundee. Basel Switzer is a Consultant Adult Psychiatrist in the Scottish Borders

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Published

2013-04-06

How to Cite

Cavannagh, P., Foggie, J., & Hull, A. (2013). FAITH GROUP LEADERS AND TRAUMA: THE DIFFERENCE THAT CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE?. Health and Social Care Chaplaincy, 12(2), 29-37. https://doi.org/10.1558/hscc.v12i2.29