Mapping out a Canadian university’s trauma-informed landscape: A preliminary exploration
Adversity and trauma are commonly misunderstood human experiences affecting most individuals across post-secondary campuses. Depending on contextual factors, they can lead to lifelong challenges or growth. Without an adequate understanding, well-meaning individuals and organisations may unknowingly...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Global Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2024.2445826 |
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| author | Mélanie Letendre Jauniaux Heather L. Lawford |
| author_facet | Mélanie Letendre Jauniaux Heather L. Lawford |
| author_sort | Mélanie Letendre Jauniaux |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Adversity and trauma are commonly misunderstood human experiences affecting most individuals across post-secondary campuses. Depending on contextual factors, they can lead to lifelong challenges or growth. Without an adequate understanding, well-meaning individuals and organisations may unknowingly perpetuate harm. Trauma-informed approaches (TIAs) can help organisations prevent harm, promote empowerment, and enhance connection. Preliminary investigations are critical for the development of sustainable TIAs. This exploratory study investigated the attitudes, knowledge, and workplace culture concerning adversity and trauma at a small Canadian university with no existing TIA. The study involved two phases: first, preliminary consultations with ten community stakeholders and a review of relevant literature, and second, nine semi-structured interviews with staff and faculty, followed by reflexive thematic analysis of the data. Four key themes emerged: (1) limited trauma awareness on campus, highlighting a need for system-wide training and tools, (2) privilege and vulnerability, disparities in safety, flexibility and agency across university departments, (3) pockets of safety, academic culture and other barriers to change, (4) suggestions to address barriers, through trauma education, human-centric practices, and systemic collaboration. This study provides insight into the readiness, challenges, and recommendations for developing system-wide trauma awareness in a Canadian university. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b74f9e3c92fc4647bb9a3343bffdd208 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1744-1692 1744-1706 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-b74f9e3c92fc4647bb9a3343bffdd2082025-01-06T20:02:30ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Public Health1744-16921744-17062025-12-0120110.1080/17441692.2024.2445826Mapping out a Canadian university’s trauma-informed landscape: A preliminary explorationMélanie Letendre Jauniaux0Heather L. Lawford1Department of Psychology, Bishop’s University, Sherbrooke, CanadaDepartment of Psychology, Bishop’s University, Sherbrooke, CanadaAdversity and trauma are commonly misunderstood human experiences affecting most individuals across post-secondary campuses. Depending on contextual factors, they can lead to lifelong challenges or growth. Without an adequate understanding, well-meaning individuals and organisations may unknowingly perpetuate harm. Trauma-informed approaches (TIAs) can help organisations prevent harm, promote empowerment, and enhance connection. Preliminary investigations are critical for the development of sustainable TIAs. This exploratory study investigated the attitudes, knowledge, and workplace culture concerning adversity and trauma at a small Canadian university with no existing TIA. The study involved two phases: first, preliminary consultations with ten community stakeholders and a review of relevant literature, and second, nine semi-structured interviews with staff and faculty, followed by reflexive thematic analysis of the data. Four key themes emerged: (1) limited trauma awareness on campus, highlighting a need for system-wide training and tools, (2) privilege and vulnerability, disparities in safety, flexibility and agency across university departments, (3) pockets of safety, academic culture and other barriers to change, (4) suggestions to address barriers, through trauma education, human-centric practices, and systemic collaboration. This study provides insight into the readiness, challenges, and recommendations for developing system-wide trauma awareness in a Canadian university.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2024.2445826Quality educationgood health and well-beingno povertyreduced inequalitiespeacejustice and strong institutions |
| spellingShingle | Mélanie Letendre Jauniaux Heather L. Lawford Mapping out a Canadian university’s trauma-informed landscape: A preliminary exploration Global Public Health Quality education good health and well-being no poverty reduced inequalities peace justice and strong institutions |
| title | Mapping out a Canadian university’s trauma-informed landscape: A preliminary exploration |
| title_full | Mapping out a Canadian university’s trauma-informed landscape: A preliminary exploration |
| title_fullStr | Mapping out a Canadian university’s trauma-informed landscape: A preliminary exploration |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mapping out a Canadian university’s trauma-informed landscape: A preliminary exploration |
| title_short | Mapping out a Canadian university’s trauma-informed landscape: A preliminary exploration |
| title_sort | mapping out a canadian university s trauma informed landscape a preliminary exploration |
| topic | Quality education good health and well-being no poverty reduced inequalities peace justice and strong institutions |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2024.2445826 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT melanieletendrejauniaux mappingoutacanadianuniversitystraumainformedlandscapeapreliminaryexploration AT heatherllawford mappingoutacanadianuniversitystraumainformedlandscapeapreliminaryexploration |