People who have had trauma
![Document](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/worksheet%20.png?itok=NPPkN65Y)
This information is about the mental health of people who have experienced trauma.
It has information on
![Person who is very upset](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/trauma%20.png?itok=SpEGYa8f)
- Key points for people who have experienced trauma
![Worried person](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/worry.png?itok=M9OMq-lN)
- Worries you might have when getting help for your mental health and what you can do
![Person providing support](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/Peer%20Support%201c.png?itok=hk8LKGXh)
- Services and supports
![Person who is very upset](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/trauma%20.png?itok=SpEGYa8f)
Trauma is when something has happened to you that made you very frightened or very upset.
![Person upset](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/Upset-7.png?itok=6t9I4pbn)
Everyone has different things that make us frightened or very upset.
![Person being bullied by others](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/bullied.png?itok=bA92N4Fa)
A lot of people with intellectual disability experience
- Abuse
- Bullying
- Neglect
These things can cause you to have trauma.
![Grabbing someone](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/Abuse%20Grab.png?itok=6hd1kc0C)
Abuse is when someone says or does something to hurt you or make you feel bad.
![Person being bullied by others](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/bullied.png?itok=bA92N4Fa)
Bullying is when someone or a group of people are mean to you on purpose.
This could be more than one time.
![Carer not facing the person](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/Ignored%20by%20Carer.png?itok=IVR9gQvt)
Neglect is when someone who is meant to be supporting you does not give you the care you need.
![A group of people dressed in different job uniforms. Including office, pizza, road work.](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/activities.png?itok=9icvIP_u)
Trauma can happen to you anywhere.
Trauma can happen
![Safe home to live](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/safe%20place%20to%20live%20.png?itok=QcLc06FO)
- At home
![Student](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/College%20Student.png?itok=bW797eeb)
- At school
![Two people looking at information in front of a computer](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/Office%203.png?itok=rjFVCWFo)
- At work
![Seeing a health worker](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/gp-friendly-medium.png?itok=hehvb6wn)
- When you are getting health care
![Communication aid](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/Communication%20Aid%201.png?itok=Moy6Nwc-)
You can communicate with someone you trust if these things
- Are happening to you
- Have happened to you
![Person looking upset while talking to a health worker on the phone](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/ignorned%20by%20doctor%20.png?itok=6uqWNDwr)
Even if it has only happened one time you can still let someone you trust know.
![Communication](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/Communication%201_0.png?itok=Km_5tLKD)
To communicate is how you understand and share your feelings or information.
![Talking to someone you trust](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/Social%20work.png?itok=FeHvPhZw)
There are many people you might trust.
For more information about who you might trust go to https://www.idmhconnect.health/
someone-trust
![Worried person](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/worry.png?itok=M9OMq-lN)
Below are some worries you might have when you try to get support for your mental health.
![Idea](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/Idea.png?itok=jlTl0xe5)
We have some ideas for what you can do.
![Not communicating](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/talk%20and%20listen%20%20crossed.png?itok=sc_KU8fV)
Your mental health worker does not ask about bad things that have happened to me in the past
![Two people communicating with each other](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/Talk%20and%20listen.png?itok=FCsBaHm3)
This is what you can do.
Communicate about bad things that have happened to your mental health workers.
![Two people sitting on different sides of a desk. One is a doctor and the other is a patient. Both look happy.](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/GP%20Doctor%208.png?itok=YX4lKEkx)
Mental health workers are people who work to help you with your mental health.
![Communication](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/Communication%201_0.png?itok=Km_5tLKD)
It is OK to communicate to your mental health worker if you think you have trauma.
![Woman stressed](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/Stress%20.png?itok=7ZXWRkVN)
It is OK to feel stressed or worried when you communicate about bad things that have happened.
This is normal.
![Health worker giving information](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/Give%20information.png?itok=e5-rIB0m)
Communicating with mental health workers means they can understand you better.
![Talking to someone you trust](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/Social%20work.png?itok=FeHvPhZw)
If it is too hard to tell your mental health worker you can tell someone you trust.
You can get them to tell your mental health worker about your trauma.
![Person feeling down](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/Withdrawn.png?itok=j8WPQ6lp)
My mental health is not getting better
Your mental health might not get better if you are experiencing
![Grabbing someone](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/Abuse%20Grab.png?itok=6hd1kc0C)
- Abuse
![Person being bullied by others](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/bullied.png?itok=bA92N4Fa)
- Bullying
![Carer not facing the person](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/Ignored%20by%20Carer.png?itok=IVR9gQvt)
- Neglect
![Talking on the phone and looking upset](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/Phone%201%20Upset.png?itok=VRZ9qQWX)
This is what you can do.
If you are in a crisis call 000.
A crisis is when you are in danger or are very upset.
![Supporting someone with mental illness](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/very%20upset%20.png?itok=oj71QCHW)
You are in a crisis if you
- Want to hurt yourself
- Want to hurt someone else
- Want to die
![Medical bag with a cross inside. Followed by the words Emergency Help.](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/Emergency%20Help%20icon%20%281%29.png?itok=IVgC-W6q)
For more information about this click emergency help
![Health worker talking to a person](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/talk%20and%20listen.png?itok=WzMkj4-i)
It is important to tell someone you trust if you are experiencing
- Abuse
- Bullying
- Neglect
![Communication](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/Communication%201_0.png?itok=Km_5tLKD)
You can communicate with someone you trust what is happening to you even if you are not sure if it is
- Abuse
- Bullying
- Neglect
![Person working on a computer](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/Office%20Work%20%281%29.png?itok=Dkyy5KpO)
For more information about how you can communicate with someone you trust go to https://www.idmhconnect.health/
communicating-about-my-mental-health/ER
![Person feeling down](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/Withdrawn.png?itok=j8WPQ6lp)
My mental health is not getting better for other reasons
Your mental health might not get better if you can not stop thinking about bad things that have happened to you.
![Person thinking](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/Think1.png?itok=-xDHSb04)
If you have experienced trauma it can be hard to stop thinking about it.
![A group of people dressed in different job uniforms. Including office, pizza, road work.](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/activities.png?itok=9icvIP_u)
You might be living or working in the same place where these bad things happened to you.
This means that you might be reminded of these bad things.
![Talking to someone you trust](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/Social%20work.png?itok=FeHvPhZw)
This is what you can do.
If you cannot stop thinking about your past trauma you should tell someone you trust.
![Housing network](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/Housing%20Network.png?itok=AMhXg3CW)
Someone you trust might be able to help you to change where you live or where you work.
![Calm person](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/calm%20.png?itok=0uLeajOU)
When you change where you live or where you work you might feel
- Less stressed
- Less uncomfortable
![Person providing support](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/Peer%20Support%201c.png?itok=hk8LKGXh)
Below is a list of services and supports to support people who have experienced trauma.
![Person looking upset while talking to a health worker on the phone](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/ignorned%20by%20doctor%20.png?itok=6uqWNDwr)
Call the Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline if you want to talk to someone about
- Abuse
- Bullying
- Neglect
![No money](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/No%20money.jpg?itok=FzikaBY2)
You can call the Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline on 1800 880 052.
It is free to call them.
![Easy Read sheet](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/Easy%20Read%20Info%201.png?itok=K4Db007e)
Speak Up and be Safe from Abuse has Easy Read information.
This information can support you to communicate to someone that you
- Have experienced
- Or are still experiencing abuse
For more information go to https://www.speakupandbesafe.com.au/
![Working together](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/multidisciplinary.png?itok=AeQOJ2yv)
The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disabilities was a group of people who
- Listened to the stories of people with disability
- Told the government how to make things better
![Person using the internet](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/Claim%20Online.png?itok=nNIw0kYt)
They wrote about what they found in their final report.
For more information go to https://disability.royalcommission.gov.au/
publications/final-report
![Screen capture of the Wordlist on the Intellectual Disability Mental Health Connect website.](/sites/default/files/styles/easy_read/public/media-image/Wordlist.png?itok=nAL2D_c3)
There are some tricky words on this Easy Read page.
For more information about these words go to