Mental health and trauma

The Association supports speech pathologists working in mental health and trauma. 

Communication difficulties and social, emotional and behavioural (SEB) challenges

Communication includes the physical production of speech/voice; understanding what other people say; expressing thoughts and feelings using words; and/or interacting socially with others. Individuals with communication difficulties are much more likely to develop SEB difficulties, including mental illness, than the general population, and a significant number of people living with mental ill-health have communication needs. Communication difficulties frequently co-occur with neurodivergent conditions (e.g., ADHD, autism) and/or mental health needs (e.g., anxiety, depression) either as part of the condition itself or as a side effect of medication used to treat the condition or need.

Swallowing difficulties and mental health needs

Problems with eating, drinking and swallowing are known as dysphagia. Many people living with poor mental health have difficulty swallowing food or drinking safely and they are much more likely to develop swallowing difficulties than the general population.

Speech pathology and trauma

 

Trauma can be described as the emotional or psychological harm that can occur following very distressing or frightening events.

Trauma can affect a person’s thinking, emotions, ability to connect with others, and the way their body works. Trauma can make it hard for someone to cope. Many people with communication and swallowing needs experience events and social interactions as traumatic because of the way other people treat them or barriers in the environment that make communication and swallowing challenging. If a child experiences maltreatment (such as abuse or neglect), it is called developmental or complex trauma.

This type of trauma can impact the way children’s brains grow and develop as well as how they approach relationships. It can affect different areas of children's development including their communication skills. Research has shown that most children who have experienced maltreatment have more difficulties with their communication skills than other children the same age.

For more information on developmental and complex trauma, please see more here.

Trauma can also be experienced by people with neurodivergent conditions (including communication disorders), disabilities, mental health needs, and swallowing difficulties.

This trauma is often caused by the overwhelming stress people experience from living in a world that struggles to meet their needs.

War veterans, refugees, those exposed to natural disasters, and others who have undergone terrifying experiences can also experience trauma that may affect their speech, language and communication skills.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples continue to experience trauma as a result of colonisation and its ongoing impact.

This trauma can make it hard to communicate effectively Speech pathologists specialise in helping people with communication and swallowing needs. Many people who have experienced trauma struggle with their communication and swallowing skills. Therefore, speech pathologists play an essential role in supporting people who have experienced trauma.

Speech pathology and mental health

People with mental health needs often have communication and swallowing difficulties. 

In fact, people with communication and swallowing difficulties are more likely to experience mental ill-health.Speech pathologists help with communication and swallowing.

They are an essential part of the mental health care team.

Please see mental health for more information.

Fact sheets - mental health

Speech Pathology Australia has published a fact sheet and infographic on mental health.

The UK-equivalent to Speech Pathology Australia, the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, has published the following fact sheets that complement the one published by Speech Pathology Australia:

Podcast episodes - mental health

Below are episodes relating to mental health that have been recorded for the Speech Pathology Australia podcast, Speak Up . Subscribe to the podcast for future episodes.

S02 Episode 6: Kids behaving badly: The link between behaviour and language - Dr Karen James

S01 Episode 12: Child and youth mental health - Ms Chantele Edlington

S01 Episode 16: Adolescent and adult inpatient mental health - Ms Gemma White and Ms Kelly Jones

S02 Episode 10: Managing COVID-19 related stress - Dr Claire Mayers

S02 Episode 14: Restrictive practices: What are they and why do speech pathologists need to know - Ms Breanne Hetherington and Ms Jo Wilkinson

S02 Episode 19: Speech pathology in older adult mental health - Ms Melanie Breese

S03 Episode 35: Supporting the mental health needs of people with aphasia - Dr Caroline Baker

S04 Episode 19: A journey into paediatric feeding, infant mental health and responsive feeding therapy - Ms Carly Vaness and Ms Kate Broderick

S05 Episode 02: It’s All Around Us: Working with Mental Health Needs in Speech Pathology - Kerry Holland and Jessica Carpenter

S05 Episode 07: Mental health and trauma: Every Speech Pathologists Business - Kizzy Searle

Podcast episodes - trauma

Below are episodes relating to trauma that have been recorded for the Speech Pathology Australia podcast, Speak Up . Subscribe to the podcast for future episodes.

Episode: Complex trauma and communication: The speech pathology role - Kate Headley

S03 Episode 2: Working with young people who have experienced trauma – Kate Headley Episode: A podcast from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association - ASHA Voices: In the Schools, an SLP Responds to Trauma

S04 Episode 28: Considering Adverse Childhood Experiences in Paediatric Speech Pathology - Sarah Verdon

S04 Episode 29: Screening for Unmet Needs in Paediatric Speech Pathology - Anna Kearns and Lauren Hamill

Resources for mental health clinicians

Speech, language and communication needs in youth mental health

This clinical practice resource is to help mental health clinicians become more communication aware in your practice, find further resources and points of referral, and share up-to-date clinical information at your setting about speech, language and communication needs.

Reference guide: how to support young people with speech, language and communication needs

The reference guide provides strategies and tips that mental health clinicians can use to support young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) to navigate mental health settings.

Mind Your Words is a free online course, from the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, designed to support those working with children and young people with mental health needs.

Webinars

Three webinars, each presented by Association members with extensive experience working in child and youth mental health services:

Communication expectations across different settings

Presented by speech pathologists, Mary Fleming and Suzanne Lim, this webinar is suitable for anyone working with adolescents and young people in education, employment and support service settings (e.g. housing, health, drug and alcohol, mental health, or peer support).

The presenters introduce a visual metaphor to explore how communication expectations change according to the setting in which a young person participates. They examine the fictional experience of a young woman with seemingly reasonable everyday communication skills, who struggles in her post-secondary studies, part-time work and job seeking.

View additional resources related to this webinar (There are associated handouts associated with this webinar available on the Orygen website).

Understanding speech, language and communication needs in mental health

Presented by speech pathologists, Frances Saunders and Liz Morkham, this webinar is for professionals providing mental health care for adolescents and young people.

Viewers will develop an understanding of common speech, language and communication difficulties in young people attending youth mental health services. The webinar will present an overview of how to recognise speech, language and communication needs, and the impact of these needs on individuals and mental health interventions.

Strategies for working with young people with additional speech, language and communication needs

Presented by speech pathologists, Chantele Edlington and Laura Caire, this webinar will help mental health clinicians to feel more confident and equipped to work with clients presenting with speech, language and communication needs. The webinar focusses on utilisation and implementation of strategies, particularly visual aids, to increase efficacy of clinical work and clients engagement in therapy.

Other useful materials

Speech Pathology in Mental Health Position Statement

Talking Trouble Aotearoa New Zealand

How Speech Pathology helps kids to heal from trauma (ACT for Kids)

Children in need of help and protection: call for evidence Submission from the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)

Home Office Domestic Abuse Statutory Guidance (UK) that recognises the connection between speech, language and communication needs and domestic abuse.

Emerging Minds has developed a number of resources for a range of audiences including clinicians, parents/carers and educators:

Resources: Emerging Minds

Beyond Blue has developed a couple of mental health coaching programs that run over 6 sessions, are FREE and don't require a GP referral.

If you're an individual who would like to improve your ability to manage everyday life stresses such as work, study, relationships, health or loneliness, please see: NewAccess - mental health coaching

If you're a small business owner and keen to develop your skills around managing stress and overwhelm using straightforward problem-solving approaches, please see: NewAccess for Small Business Owners

NB: SPA does not recommend or endorse any specific non-SPA course so it will be important for you to assess whether they are likely to offer quality training and meet your unique learning needs.