Cultural trauma causes personal trauma as a response to the shattering events that caused the cultural trauma. It is so persistent and overwhelming that it leaves the person unable to cope. This type of trauma is passed down from generation to generation. It may be passed on through methods of parenting, modes of behaviour, domestic violence, the use of harmful substances and/or mental health issues. These issues are the result of trauma and the cause of new trauma, in one vicious cycle.
Secondary exposure to trauma occurs when children witness the past traumatic experiences of their family and community members who speak of massacres, dispossession, slavery, rape, and violence that took place in the past. Without first addressing the healing needs of communities and their members, other interventions are likely to have limited impact. It seems critical that healing programs have a vital element of restoring, reaffirming, and renewing cultural identity, connection to country and participation in community.
If done well, sustainable justice can play a significant part in this.
Parental incarceration
It is not known how many children have parents in prison. There is no process for identifying them, no oversight, no support for them, and no government department responsible for them. They are not considered by the justice system. There are no processes or protocols in
the police force, courts or prisons related to them. This lack of policy may well be a significant contributor to (re)offending by children and young people, as expected outcomes – such as stigma, homelessness, instability, stress, and poverty – suggest.
A Victorian parliamentary inquiry in 2022 into the children of imprisoned parents found that parental incarceration is likely to interrupt childhood development and have detrimental impacts on the emotional, and social wellbeing, and the mental and physical health, of the child. This can lead to intergenerational trauma and incarceration.
Adverse childhood experiences
Life on the streets in groups that form gangs is in itself extremely traumatising and re-traumatising. The links to violent experiences inherent in gang membership
may correlate strongly with PTSD, anxiety, and paranoia.
There is little research into this as yet, but a small study found that “as compared to non-gang prisoners, street gang prisoners have higher levels of exposure to violence, symptoms of paranoia, PTSD, anxiety, and forced control of their behaviour in prison.”
Clearly, mental health in gang-like groups deserves more research. Gang members may undermine other members’ mental health, or persons with existing mental health problems may be attracted to gang membership.
Judicial responses, policies, and intervention strategies need to identify and address the mental health needs of these gang members and prisoners who come from such a background if successful rehabilitation is to be achieved.
Image: Edsurge
Comments