May is "Mental Health Awareness" month. It is a natural tendency to try to move as far and as fast away from the pandemic, which may be an effective strategy for some people, but not for all. We need to draw an awareness for those who have struggled with post-pandemic life and not judge them with, "what is wrong with you?! Itʻs over, get over it."
The pandemic has magnified access and equity issues to behavioral health supports in our communities, particularly in our rural and remote parts of our state. In this interview with KHON News, I wanted to address this issue (it may not have come out clearly in the story) as well as talk about challenge that keiki and ʻohana face with medical trauma. It really is two stories colliding into one major issue.
Medical trauma impacts the entire family. I completely understand from the POV of doctors and surgeons, the medical needs of the patient come first, but there is also a need to pay attention to the mental health and emotional needs of the patient and the patientʻs caregivers. Medical trauma can take a toll. Healthcare providers from intake personnel, nurses, physical therapist, to physicians- anyone who has access to patients, should be aware of potential lifelong effects of the trauma due to hospitalization and beyond. What is predictable is preventable and we should be informed so that we may resist the re-traumatization of those who have suffered from medical trauma. Most medical professionals understand this and apply to their practice. The root cause of trauma, trauma-informed care and the impact of medical trauma in pediatrics should be part of JABSOMʻs (The University of Hawaiʻiʻs School of Medicine) Grand Rounds to better prepare medical students for success in their patient interactions (if it is already not part of their studies). #healthcare #mentalhealth #tic
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