Larne Lough Alliance Councillor Maeve Donnelly
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has approved a motion to adopt a “trauma-informed approach”.
The motion was proposed by Larne Lough Alliance Councillor Maeve Donnelly, who explained:
“Trauma-informed practice is grounded in the understanding that trauma has a significant impact on a person’s life. The prevalence of trauma can have an impact on the emotional, physiological, and social well-being of a person.
“A trauma-informed lens is one that means we all make the decision to avoid triggering others and are more conscious of sensitivities around Troubles related incidents.”
Cllr Donnelly continued:
“A government research paper states that trauma refers to experiences that cause intense physical and psychological stress reactions. This may be from a single event, multiple events or set of circumstances experienced by an individual as physically and emotionally harmful or threatening and has lasting adverse effects on the individual’s physical, social, emotional or spiritual well-being.
“Here we live in a post-conflict society and at the moment, there is no one agreed narrative of the Troubles. There are those who have trauma from the conflict here who have been directly affected by or passed down through generations.
“As a council, we need to develop our understanding of what being trauma-informed means across councillors and council officers for this initiative to really benefit our residents.”
She noted that trauma training can be delivered by the WAVE organisation.
“It would mean that going forward, we would be more mindful of others around us whether that is colleagues in the chamber or constituents, that we pay attention to how we engage with others,” she added.
“Being trauma sensitive means a change of mindset from ‘what’s wrong with you’ to ‘what happened to you’. If we as a council were to recalibrate our thinking and become more trauma- informed, then we would do our business very differently.”
Carrick Castle Ulster Unionist Cllr Bethany Ferris, who seconded the motion, works for a victims’ and surviors’ charity and provides advocacy for individuals and families devastated by the impacts of the Troubles.
Cllr Ferris stated:
“Following a trauma-informed practice can help create a culture of compassion as we seek to help people heal and create safer coping strategies. I would encourage elected members and staff members of this council to support this motion and participate in the training as it will help each of us to better understand not only ourselves but enable us to better serve those we represent across the borough.”
Coast Road DUP Cllr Andrew Clarke said:
“I want to enthusiastically endorse the idea that we should be thoughtful in our speech. Courtesy and empathy can go a long way.
“As members, we probably have firmer political convictions than the average member of the public. Disagreements are probably inevitable but we should be in no rush to make it personal or unnecessarily add offence.”
He noted:
“Good deeds are often surrounded by complexities and the obvious complexity here is whether the risk of awakening trauma can sometimes be balanced with a worthy aim.”
An obvious example, he suggested, would be “hard-hitting” TV adverts about car crashes.
“I am not yet totally confident that the trauma-informed practice is sufficiently nuanced to safeguard the balance between its worthy aims and safeguarding public health, protests or free speech,” he continued.
He proposed an amendment that the local authority recognises trauma which has a significant impact on a person’s life and therefore urges that members show appropriate sensitivity in this area when interacting with others.
Cllr Donnelly replied that she did not want to accept the amendment. Ballymena DUP Cllr Lawrie Philpott said that he wished to second the amendment.
Knockagh Alliance Cllr Aaron Skinner said:
“I don’t really see how you can compare comments in a council chamber to an advert designed to shock. That is the difference and I think it really shows where we really need to have training to understand what this means and the implications that our words can have on people without us realising it.
“It is about us better understanding about what we do and how we do it and how it affects others. There is not a change to standing orders, There is no implication for free speech at all.”
Cllr Donnelly stated:
“Councils in England have already implemented a trauma- informed practice. I don’t understand why we would not want to improve. I’m confounded and dumbfounded why we would not accept training when it is so obviously needed.”
The amendment fell following a vote in which 19 councillors were against with 17 in favour. Councillors agreed to support the original motion following 20 votes in favour with 16 abstentions.
In a statement issued after the meeting, Cllr Donnelly said:
“As a council, adopting a trauma-informed approach is crucial when making decisions. The training provided will allow MEA Council to understand the significant impact trauma has on a person’s life and will teach us to be conscious of sensitivities around Troubles related incidents in order to avoid triggering those who have experienced trauma.
“As a post-conflict society, we need to do better to become more trauma informed. We don’t have a shared narrative of the Troubles. Some of us have been impacted more than others, but the trauma will have affected most families in the province and could have been passed down through the generations. English councils already have this training and it is crucial that we also have it here because the need for it is high.
“Our council will benefit from this approach, moving forward to become more trauma informed. You never know who you are speaking to, so it is important to be mindful when discussing sensitive subjects to avoid potentially upsetting or triggering someone.”