D Whybrow1, N Jones2, N Greenberg3. 1. Academic Department of Military Mental Health, King's College London, Weston Education Centre, London SE5 9RJ, UK, deanwhybrow@hotmail.com. 2. Academic Department of Military Mental Health, King's College London, Weston Education Centre, London SE5 9RJ, UK. 3. Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, Weston Education Centre, London SE5 9RJ, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Trauma Risk Management (TRiM) is a peer support system developed within the British Armed Forces. It aims to ensure that trauma-exposed personnel are properly supported and encouraged to seek timely help should they develop mental health problems that fail to resolve spontaneously. AIMS: To summarize current knowledge about TRiM and make recommendations for further research. METHODS: A search of PsychINFO, CINAHL and PubMed identified 13 published papers. RESULTS: TRiM outcomes were represented in different ways within the relevant studies suggesting that TRiM may have effects additional to those that it seeks to achieve. For example, a randomized controlled trial demonstrated that TRiM had a specific positive occupational effect and did no harm; a qualitative study suggested that TRiM enhanced liaison between mental health workers and line managers and a service evaluation suggested that it reduced sickness absence. In general, the process appears to enhance trauma-exposed personnel's reliance on peer support and TRiM was reportedly acceptable and sustainable. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence suggests that TRiM's utility has moved beyond the military to other organizations where personnel risk occupational traumatic exposure. Further research would help to understand how TRiM is perceived by line managers and how it functions within the trauma-prone populations.
BACKGROUND:Trauma Risk Management (TRiM) is a peer support system developed within the British Armed Forces. It aims to ensure that trauma-exposed personnel are properly supported and encouraged to seek timely help should they develop mental health problems that fail to resolve spontaneously. AIMS: To summarize current knowledge about TRiM and make recommendations for further research. METHODS: A search of PsychINFO, CINAHL and PubMed identified 13 published papers. RESULTS: TRiM outcomes were represented in different ways within the relevant studies suggesting that TRiM may have effects additional to those that it seeks to achieve. For example, a randomized controlled trial demonstrated that TRiM had a specific positive occupational effect and did no harm; a qualitative study suggested that TRiM enhanced liaison between mental health workers and line managers and a service evaluation suggested that it reduced sickness absence. In general, the process appears to enhance trauma-exposed personnel's reliance on peer support and TRiM was reportedly acceptable and sustainable. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence suggests that TRiM's utility has moved beyond the military to other organizations where personnel risk occupational traumatic exposure. Further research would help to understand how TRiM is perceived by line managers and how it functions within the trauma-prone populations.
Authors: Jesmin Antony; Raman Brar; Paul A Khan; Marco Ghassemi; Vera Nincic; Jane P Sharpe; Sharon E Straus; Andrea C Tricco Journal: Syst Rev Date: 2020-05-31