EnvisioningHealth - Changing Lives One Idea at a Time | Incredible Care

Empowering trauma survivors to gain a new lease of life

2024/12/31

Beyond providing medical care, the National University
Centre for Trauma helps survivors regain confidence in all
aspects of life as they journey through recovery.
Issue 7 | December 2024

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For most trauma survivors, physical recovery is only one chapter in a long healing journey. The invisible emotional scars — anxiety, grief and a fractured sense of self — often remain, leading to a profound, silent struggle. Without the right support system, these wounds can become a barrier to moving forward.

The National University Centre for Trauma, established by the National University Hospital (NUH), plays an important role in supporting trauma survivors, helping them rebuild emotional strength and reconnect with their lives.

Mending invisible wounds

Emotional and psychological impacts including anxiety and depression, are common among trauma survivors. In 2022, a road accident left Clarissa Foong with head trauma, memory loss, bone fractures and organ injuries. Two years on, the 25-year-old still experiences mild cognitive and memory issues. Similarly, 18-year-old Marius Madsen’s life changed after a fall from height left him wheelchair-bound. Both have faced an emotional journey punctuated by challenges, from isolation to identity struggles.

At the National University Centre for Trauma, Ms Foong and Mr Madsen have found solace in a trauma survivor support group, where they connect with others who understand their struggles. It is the first support group of its kind in Singapore for survivors of traumatic bodily injuries, catering to patients from NUH.

“Many patients whose bodies have endured physical trauma struggle with similar emotional battles of isolation after being discharged from the hospital,” says Lim Suat Ting, Senior Trauma Coordinator, Department of Surgery, NUH. “The absence of a national support group was the impetus for us to create a community where survivors can connect, share experiences and heal together. Our goal is to help them build friendships, regain confidence and rebuild their lives.”

The group meets twice a year, offering survivors a safe space where they can learn coping strategies from one another. To enrich this learning journey, the Centre also organises art therapy workshops, providing survivors with a creative conduit to connect with their emotions and express themselves freely.

“For trauma survivors, connecting with others who’ve had similar experiences creates a bond that’s hard to explain. It’s a safe space where we don’t have to explain everything — we just get it. That understanding is so important for healing,” shares Mr Madsen.

Ms Foong echoes this sentiment: “When I met other survivors in the trauma support group, I felt less alone, even though we don’t suffer from the same kind of physical injuries.”

“Some trauma survivors develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after their accidents,” says Dr Soo Shuenn Chiang, Senior Consultant, Department of Psychological Medicine, NUH. “They may experience intrusive mental images related to the accident or nightmares and become hypervigilant to sounds or sights related to the accident. They may also struggle with insomnia, become irritable or avoid thinking or talking about the accident.”

For example, someone involved in an accident with a red car may feel jumpy whenever they see a red car or encounter similar scenes on television. “For survivors, it can be an isolating experience to go through the symptoms of trauma alone. A support group helps reduce these feelings of isolation and offers survivors a chance to connect with others in a community,” adds Dr Soo.

Recognising the growing need for emotional support among trauma survivors, the Centre now plans to expand the group, increasing membership and frequency of meetings. “Our goal is to empower all survivors to transform their adversity into strength,” says Ms Lim.

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