The impact of abuse affects every Australian
More than twelve million prescriptions are issued in Australia every year for depression! The impact of abuse is devastating, intergenerational, and it affects every Australian. By helping people to be survivors, not victims – to be economic contributors, not welfare recipients, we currently save the Federal Government more than $700,000 annually. Trauma healing services are a cost effective addition to Australia’s health and welfare system.
Heal For life offers an alternative, long lasting solution by addressing core issues rather than simply managing symptoms. Think of the possibilities in reduced prescriptions, reduced hospital stays and reduced welfare payments if everyone could heal for life. And every person who heals from their childhood trauma has an impact on many more lives… their healing flows through to others and transforms communities!
Research has shown that there is a very strong link between mental illness and childhood trauma and abuse. In Australia, a child is abused every 13 minutes; one in four girls and one in seven boys. These official figures are under-reported. It has also been proven* that:
People who have experienced abuse are 74 times more likely to display suicidal behaviour than those who have not.
- 80% of people diagnosed with depression have suffered some form of trauma, particularly emotional and physical abuse.
- 68.8% of psychiatric in-patients have suffered from childhood sexual or physical abuse.
- 92% of heroin addicts and 94% of amphetamine users have suffered from childhood trauma.
- 80% of homeless people have suffered from childhood trauma.
The Heal for Life Model of Care provides a safe, supportive place for survivors to begin to heal from their childhood trauma and abuse. The healing principle is “by survivors, for survivors”. Highly trained facilitators, with the support of trained carers, provide guests with the tools they need to give them back the power they lost and to help them face their traumas. The Model incorporates the latest neuroscience information on the effects of trauma on the brain and the experiential knowledge of survivors. 80% of the staff at Heal for Life are trained volunteers who are willingly giving back to the organisation that has so greatly helped them.
* Research Article: DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY 24:163–168 (2007) INTERRELATIONSHIP OF CHILDHOOD TRAUMA, NEUROTICISM, AND DEPRESSIVE PHENOTYPE
