HJNO Mar/Apr 2025

TRAUMA RESPONSE 24 MAR / APR 2025 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS  still affected them deeply. For too long, there’s been a stigma in healthcare around acknowledging emo- tional distress. Medical professionals are conditioned to just push through, but the reality is: we absorb trauma, too. In the days and weeks following the attack, I met with first responders and fel- low healthcare workers who hadn’t stopped to process what they witnessed. Some were replaying images and sounds over and over in their heads. Others were struggling with effects of moral injury, feeling detached, or overwhelmed. That’s why trauma-informed care should be a priority for staff, not just patients and their families. In collaboration with the LCMC Be Well Center team, we conducted multiple “heart huddles”and psychological first aid group sessions after the attack, giv- ing staff a space to check in with themselves and others, connect over shared experi- ences, give and receive support, and learn about the variety of resources available to support their healing. Because healing isn’t just for survivors — it’s for all of us, and it’s when the trau- matic event ends that the healing process really begins. LESSON #4: THE INEXPLICABLE CONNECTION IN CHAOS — AND WHY TRAUMA PSYCHOLOGISTS MUST HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE Despite the magnitude of the event, panic never took over. Everyone from EMS to trauma surgeons to crisis responders moved together in unison. What struck me most was how, despite working in different specialties, everyone involved in the initial response saw the big- ger picture. The medical staff was treating physical wounds, our Trauma Recovery teammembers were providing care for psy- chological wounds, chaplains were avail- able for spiritual support, case managers for practical assistance, facilities and main- tenance staff for requests involving changes to the physical environment, and many oth- ers were working hard to address survivors’ and loved ones’various needs. All the while, we were checking in with each other. And as most teams in the hospital started getting back to business as usual, our team contin- ued reaching out to them, providing support as needed, and reminding them that we see them, we appreciate them, and we’re here for them if and when they need us. These are just some of the advantages of integrating mental health profession- als into the standard care of patients in a Level 1 trauma center. I’m fortunate to be in a healthcare systemwhere mental health is not an afterthought, but, instead, an essen- tial piece of the puzzle. LESSON #5: EVEN IN TRAUMA’S DARKEST MOMENTS, GROWTH IS POSSIBLE Traumatic events can disrupt lives, but they can also reveal the strengths of an indi- vidual, a family, a team, even a community. Life-altering experiences can bring people together and even give newmeaning or pur- pose to someone or something. I saw it in our patients. I saw it in our hospital staff. And, I saw it in the families who, despite their grief, still found ways to support one another in the waiting rooms. There’s a term in psychology called post- traumatic growth. It doesn’t mean trauma is good. It means that, in the wake of suffering, people sometimes discover strength they never knew they had. This mindset drives my work every day. But growth doesn’t happen overnight. Trauma recovery is a long road, and, for many, it takes time before they’re ready to seek help. LESSON #6: TRAUMA RECOVERY IS A LONG ROAD, AND NOT EVERYONE SEEKS HELP RIGHT AWAY Many trauma survivors don’t recognize they need help immediately — or are not experiencing trauma-related distress at that time. Some may not experience trauma- related distress until weeks, months, or even years later. That’s why our role at Seeds of NOLA extends far beyond the hospital. Our goal isn’t just to help people in the moment — it’s to ensure they knowwhere to turn when they’re ready. We know that if a patient returns for a second session, they are far more likely to complete treatment. But stigma, stress, and barriers make it difficult for many to seek care. Our job is to keep the door open for whenever someone is ready to walk through it. “TRAUMA RECOVERY STARTS WITH MAKING PEOPLE FEEL SAFE. AND SOMETIMES, THAT STARTS WITH SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A WARM INTRODUCTION AND A COMPASSIONATE PRESENCE.”