Why Trauma & Social Change?
The Triple Infinity Loop Of Change
The Need
Trauma can be seen at the roots of some of the largest systemic social challenges we face today, as well as in the lives of those working to address and solve them. While these traumas can be individual and personal experiences, they can also be felt across multiple levels: in families, communities, cultures, systems, and societies. Within the individual, traumas can be expressed through emotional, physiological, and biological responses. Collectively, however, the effects of these traumas may not always be immediately visible – and when left unaddressed or ignored, they can have a severe impact on individual and collective wellbeing, even impacting future generations. Changemakers need to understand the complex, ever-present, and ongoing impacts and cycles of trauma within the individuals, communities, and societies they support.
The Opportunity
Today, as humanity increasingly experiences shared moments of trauma – such as the COVID-19 pandemic, violence and conflict, and the global impacts of climate change – there is growing recognition of how interconnected trauma and wellbeing are, both personally and collectively. However, understanding trauma as an inhibitor to social wellbeing is not yet a mainstream perspective in social change work. Through its research, the Think Tank starts to fill the knowledge gap between understanding cycles of trauma, developing inner wellbeing, and inspiring positive social change. In doing so, the Think Tank seeks to equip individuals (particularly changemakers), communities, and societies, with the awareness, knowledge, and tools necessary for a positive inner and social transformation. With an informed perspective on the impacts of trauma today and generationally, changemakers can better unlock opportunities for individual and collective healing, encouraging wider social transformation and progress.
The Message
In developing our research, the message has become clear: trauma is everywhere, impacts everyone, and limits all of us from reaching our true potential - both individually and collectively.
We see the ongoing presence and impacts of trauma as inhibitors for individual, collective, and systemic wellbeing. Processing and healing from trauma can unlock social transformation, resilience, and human flourishing. It explores the diverse manifestations and effects of trauma today and intergenerationally – locating both at the heart of historical systems of oppression and ongoing social challenges including poverty, violence, and inequality.
The research confirms the inseparable relationship between trauma and wellbeing, emphasising the critical role of individual and collective healing in unlocking social transformation. Healing through strengths-based practices is essential, and changemakers and changemaking organisations can play a key role in empowering survivors through their healing process. In supporting survivors’ sense of safety, agency, and community, changemakers can help create space for survivors to express their stories and take action for their own wellbeing.
However, while trauma is a universal human experience, its causes and manifestations are diverse, making a one-size-fits-all approach to healing impossible. Cultures, traditions, and environments can therefore be valuable parts of strengths-based healing practices. A holistic, context-based approach that considers wellbeing in policy and in practice, at all levels of society, will go a long way in fostering resilience and collective healing.
We call for greater awareness of these impacts and for trauma-informed approaches for social change. With healing comes wellbeing, and with wellbeing comes welldoing.