Trauma Chaplaincy

Chaplaincy, beloved is an emerging profession, evolving and changing as the situations and the world keep changing. There are many types of chaplaincy known to our world and there also many aspects of chaplaincy for our consideration. Trauma chaplaincy is what we are going to consider today.

What is Trauma Chaplaincy? Trauma chaplaincy is the provision of needed care to people who suffer some forms of trauma in emergency and disastrous situations.

Type of People to be Cared For in Trauma Chaplaincy:

a.     The traumatized people themselves.

b.     The family members and relations of the traumatized persons.

c.      The people who offer support for the traumatized people.

Traumatic chaplaincy care services must include:

·        Psychological care.

·        Mental health care.

·        Emotional care.

·        Spiritual care.

·        Psychosomatic care.

·        Psychosocial care.

·        Psychospiritual care.

·        Relational care.

Where do We Find Trauma Chaplaincy Practiced or in Operation? I wish to state very categorically where trauma chaplaincy can be found employed or seen to be in operation as listed below:-

1.     In the military, where there is escalation of violence or in war, situations like in the case of Russia-Ukraine war, where many soldiers and civilians are killed, wounded, maimed, injured or displaced from their homes and families broken into pieces.

In cases like this, trauma chaplaincy comes into operation as many people become traumatized and the bereaved and the survivors of war are traumatized, needing the attention and care of trauma chaplains.

2.     Police Force of any nation: Trauma chaplaincy can also be find being practiced among the police officers, who in trying to maintain law and order in the society get shot, brutalized, wounded or killed on duty or in the line of duty.

The family of the deceased police personnel became traumatized or are thrown into trauma by the sudden death of their beloved ones. The injured, wounded, or maimed police officers and people in the society are equally thrown into trauma or traumatic situations.

Those who support them or the first responders are also affected by the sight of what is happening or what has happened.

3.     Fire Services: Trauma chaplaincy can equally be found beng practice amongst the fire fighters officers. These men and women, in the performance of their legitimate duties as fire fighters, they do get engulfed in the fire and suffer death or injuries.

Those who are injured are automatically thrown into trauma, the relations of dead fire fighters are also thrown into traumatic situations while the people they are out to salvage also become traumatized because of tensions, injuries, loss of life and properties in the fire disaster, needing professional trauma care and services in the hands of qualified trauma chaplains.

4.     Trauma chaplaincy amongst the cyclists: That chaplaincy is for all people groups and can also be practiced amongst all people groups is hereby made manifest.

Professional cyclists are people who are in sporting industry and have chosen cycling as their own area of specialty and profession and vocation. Sometimes they enter into a cycling competitions and by so doing, some of them get injured as they fall off their cycles in motion and actually die or maimed in the process.

The injured and the wounded cyclists become traumatized; family members and relations of the dead cyclists are thrown into trauma. The support groups, the fans, the spectators and the first responders also get traumatized needing the tactful and skillful assistance and support of a trauma chaplains.

5.     Professional boxing bouts and professional wrestling bouts, where many may be thrown into traumatic situations because of injuries they sustain during competitions, losses and death.

6.     Classroom settings such as the CPE or CCPE centers for actual and practical supervised chaplaincy practice and service delivery where trainee chaplains and students may be exposed to traumatic situations which can equally affect them in a traumatized manner.

What an open door opportunity for chaplains in Nigeria and the continent of Africa, where there is no hospital in Nigeria where there are staff chaplains nor are there any chaplaincy department in any hospital .

Trauma chaplains are not in competition with healthcare chaplains or hospital chaplains as they are none existence for now in our healthcare delivery system. The only condition is for interested chaplains in this area of chaplaincy setting to get trained and prepare themselves in order to be qualified to be employed by relevant agencies or engage in private professional practice and service provision.

What Trauma Chaplains Do: If trauma chaplains discover that the emergency department of a hospital have staff chaplains in place to attend to emergency situation: professionally, trauma chaplains are expected to announce their presence, but standing aside saying to staff chaplains that they are available in case their assistance is needed or required.

Trauma chaplains who come from outside the hospital of the staff chaplain must respect the space and environment of staff chaplains. There must be no conflict of interest or power tussle between trauma chaplains and the staff chaplains of the hospital rather there should be a kind of collaboration to ensure the trauma patients or care recipients get the best attention and professional care services.

Trauma chaplains who usually come from outside the hospital of the staff chaplain or the chaplaincy department of the hospital must wait for the an invitation from the hospital staff chaplains before attempting to offer whatever service he/she wants to offer the trauma patients or care recipients.

NB: There is presently a conscious efforts globally for the building of a network of chaplains for collegial interactions, support and collaboration in chaplaincy professional practice and service delivery.

In conclusion, beloved, this trauma chaplaincy provides another window of opportunities for chaplains in the emergency and disaster management agencies to provide care and trauma chaplaincy services to all in need of such.

Trauma chaplains are not in competition with healthcare chaplains or hospital chaplains but they all work together for the good and beneficial care, healingand recovery of trauma patients and care receivers.

Are you interested in online professional chaplaincy training to enable you offer beneficial chaplaincy care and services, get registered at the prestigious chaplaincy institute – Prodam-J Chaplaincy Institute for adequate and proper professional chaplaincy education and training to make you outstanding among your equals? Call 08033072375; 07055287861; 08035092416 or WhatsApp – 09091981944

Chap. David Mike-Jacobs CPC, CPST, BCC.

Professor of Anthropology, Certified Chaplaincy Educator & Trainer.

Blog: thechaplain1.blogspot.com

12^th Oct, AD2022