Agencies look to plug gaps in social services
Unaddressed traumas such as physical and emotional abuse have been passed down from one generation to the next, causing some of the Island's social problems.Community activist Gina Spence believes there could be hundreds of people who witnessed or were victim to traumatic events.Some of these individuals failed to get help to properly deal with it and consequently repeated the same mistakes with their children or grandchildren, she explained.This trend called “unaddressed multi-generational trauma” may not only be caused by physical, emotional and sexual abuse but also a history of black segregation and slavery, said Tina Nash, director of the Duke of Edinburgh Award.More than 100 social service professionals, including charities, church groups, community activists and government agencies discussed the issue yesterday at the forth Convening of Social Service Agencies.People and groups joined forces to tackle the Island's complex problems by sharing information and resources.They also sought to identify gaps in treatment and prevention services, prevent duplication of efforts and ensure funds were being targeted effectively to help those in the most need.Collette Stanzler, from US-based research company Root Cause, surveyed 107 registered social service agencies on the Island to identify the main causes of Bermuda's social ills.In addition to the unaddressed trauma, the research showed there was also a lack of quality education and lack of life skills training.As a result other issues like healthy relationships, strong family connections, community involvement and protection for the Island's vulnerable populations were lacking in the community.Ms Stanzler said people that did not receive treatment or care often continued the abuse through the generations or were not properly able to take care of their children.According to Selena Simons, of Child and Family Services, the issue was very “real” as she was serving the third generation of clients.She encouraged all the helping agencies to find ways to assist young people born into families of multi-generational abuse and help them break the cycle.She also said the groups had been very good at identifying what the problems were and called them to action.“We need all hands on deck for treating and working on what we see,” she said.The social service agencies will continue to meet and collaborate on a regular basis to find solutions to such issues.
Community activist Gina Spence remembers watching as a child as her mother came home with blackened eyes from an abusive relationship.
The community activist said from ages 18 to 23 she repeated some of those same patterns with relationships.
But one day she sought to end the cycle of abuse and talked her problems through with a counsellor at her church.
As a result of getting spiritual and professional help, Ms Spence gave her three daughters a new model for relationships and taught them that abuse is not normal.
Speaking at the fourth Convening of Social Services yesterday, Ms Spence said she experienced what is known as “multi-generational trauma”. It is one of the root causes of the Island's social ills, along with a lack of education and lack of life skills.
Also known as the “family curse” in the faith community, it's when people witness or fall victim to traumatic events, but fail to get help to properly deal with it.
Ms Spence believes hundreds may have experienced such trauma, with some going on to repeat the same mistakes with their children and grandchildren.
According to Ms Spence, people are often too proud or ashamed about what has happened to them and therefore don't seek treatment.
But she said talking about the trauma can bring freedom and empower people to change their lives for the better.
“Bermudians are so proud. We really do not seek the help that we need unless it has gotten so bad and because of what people might say.
“That multi-generational curse that is how it is passed on because people are not speaking about it. It is just being swept under the carpet so it just continues to go from generation to generation.
“There is a lot of freedom to be able to say 'I went through that process. I am where I acknowledge it and seek the help and I am empowered now to [assist] others.”
Ms Spence encourages people to get help either through their neighbourhood church or one of the many helping agencies on the Island.
Such therapeutic services will give people “a road map to get through the process”, she said, adding that it's up to each individual to stop the trend.
