For many of us trauma can take many forms and has lots of unknown consequences.
Women and men who suffer from past trauma, will often hide the cause of their concerns due to shame and misplaced guilt. The trauma of sexual abuse is one of the most damaging to individuals and it affects many people, who are often too afraid or ashamed to come forward and seek help.
‘Podcasts that nobody wants to hear’ will focus on what are often considered to be difficult discussions about trauma and how this impacts on us all in society. The podcasts will include guests from a variety of statutory and voluntary organisations and different walks of life.
The aim is to shine a light into the penumbra world of sexual abuse through these open, healthy discussions and help more people to come forward and seek help.
This page will host a growing series of conversations about trauma featuring different guests.
Today’s guest is Jason Heath, who has a professional background in mental health services. A former native of our capital city, Jason has some well considered views and opinions about the trauma of sexual abuse and why this has such a profound effect upon men. He shares some simple and yet effective ideas about how services can improve and some inspiring ideas about how men can begin to find a way out of the prison of silence that is the trauma of sexual abuse.
We are pleased to have Kim Armstrong as this week’s podcast guest, who shares some insighful views on how we all deal with trauma. Kim is a Funding Officer for The National Lottery Community Fund and is the grant manager for the Reaching Communities award that Operation Emotion received in 2022. From Yorkshire originally, she is now enjoying coastal living in Plymouth. Previous to moving to Plymouth Kim was the Operation Manager for charity Mothertongue Listening and Counselling Service in Reading which offered clinical counselling to people who’s first language wasn’t English.
Mark Thompson is a general practitioner that works at Old Farm Surgery in Paignton in the Southwest of England. Mark is a caring, hardworking doctor who is supported by an excellent clinical and administrative team. Along with the other clinicians he routinely enquires about past trauma with his patients. He is a GP trainer and an academic tutor and examiner at the Peninsula Medical School. Over the last six years Operation Emotion has worked in close partnership with Mark who has generously provided a base and support for the Operation Emotion Paignton weekly Support group.
This podcast series features Stefan Marinescu, who works for Asociatia BILC, Bucharest’s oldest non governmental organisation. Registered in 1991, BILC provided assistance to thousands of traumatised young people through its drop in centre ‘Catalysis’ which was located in the centre of the city. Stefan’s work with Asociatia BILC also provided hundreds of supported housing places and social assistance to young men and women leaving Romania’s state run institutions, winning a United Nations Award for its’ incredible work … often against all the odds.
Rosy KC is a postgraduate GP trainee, who has been working in Torbay for just over two years.
In the course of her work, Rosy sensitively encourages patients who have suffered from past trauma to come forward and seek help. Her approach is skillful, open and friendly and highly professional. In her future career Rosy will without doubt help to bring about a greater recognition of trauma within general practice.
Vicky Brooks is well known in Plymouth and beyond, leading the Trauma informed Plymouth Network to the undoubted success it is today. With a background in the criminal justice system and drug and alcohol services, working with people with profound and complex trauma, Vicky is a skilled facilitator, networker and trainer.
In this episode we are pleased to feature Lyn Gooding, the CEO at First Light, which is a South West charity providing a range of support for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Swindon and Wiltshire, and across England & Wales. Lyn has a background within the domestic abuse and sexual violence arena including the investigation of crime, the commissioning of specialist services, contract management and partnership working.
Lyn joins Jon Tilbury, the chair of Operation Emotion and discusses the work of her organisation, as well as her views on how society deals with sexual violence and abuse.
This podcast episode features Dr Jon Tilbury, who dicusses the impact of trauma within medicine and his career as a general practitioner and Medical Director for the NHS.
This episode features David Ball, who was one of the founding members of Operation Emotion. David shares his views on the trauma of sexual abuse and how society deals with this, often difficult to discuss subject, that affects so many people.
Peter Fry sailed the world as a Marine Engineer in the Merchant Navy. In this episode he shares his view about how society deals with the trauma of sexual abuse and the difficulties that men face in coming forward to seek help. Peter is inspirational in thought and deed for so many people. He is also a highly valued member of the board of trustees at Operation Emotion.