Every day, there are children across the nation who wake up carrying invisible pain from trauma, according to the Minister of Social Services, Information & Broadcasting Hon. Myles LaRoda. He officially opened the Psychological First Aid Trauma Intervention Workshop – a two day event designed to equip school guidance counsellors, probation officers, school suspension officers and social workers with practical tools to help children heal, cope, and reclaim their sense of safety, their voice, and some control over their lives.
“These children walk into classrooms, communities and homes – sometimes smiling on the outside, but silently battling fears, memories, and emotions too heavy for their young hearts to hold,” Minister LaRoda said.
“Some express it through anger; others withdraw in silence; and some simply shut down. What we often see as defiance or disobedience is sometimes the voice of trauma – crying out for understanding, safety and compassion.”
The two day workshop is being held at the Department of Social Services Training Room under the theme: “Rebuilding Strength, Restoring Hope, Together We Rise”. The event is one is a series taking place in observation of the Department of Rehabilitative Welfare Services Rehabilitation Month 2025.
The Chief presenter is Dr. Valerie Knowles, clinical psychologist and representative of the Bahamas Psychological Association, who is conducting immersive and interactive sessions for the myriad of professionals who deal with children on a daily basis.
Topics covered include incest; transactional sexual relationships; understanding the psychodynamics of trauma in children; techniques for avoiding retraumatization; enhancing the capacity to respond to child victims; and psychological first aid for homicide and suicide prevention.
Minister Laroda applauded workshop participants for “showing up for children every day” and he noted that by planting seeds of hope, stability and resilience in children, they are shaping lives positively for future generations.
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