Trauma Unit

WHAT IS THE HONEYDEW TRAUMA UNIT?

The Honeydew Trauma Unit is a unit which forms part of the Honeydew Community Police Forum.
It is made up of lay counsellors who have been specifically trained in Trauma Debriefing and who work in a voluntary part-time capacity.

We provide short term:
a. Victim Support and
b .Debriefing
to victims of crime.

WHY SHOULD TRAUMA DEBRIEFING BE CONSIDERED?

Witnessing or experiencing a traumatic incident can leave us feeling helpless, finding it difficult to cope and suffering from a wide range of cognitive, emotional and physiological symptoms.

Trauma debriefing after an event can help to minimise the long-term effects of trauma and assist in the prevention of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

WHO DO WE DEBRIEF?

We offer debriefing to adults and children by appointment.

Donations are appreciated as we rely on these to meet the administrative costs of the unit.

WHEN AND HOW?

Ideally, trauma debriefing should take place within 24 to 72hrs after the event or as soon as possible thereafter.

It is never too late!!

The first session is 1 - 1½ hours, followed by a further one or two sessions.

Should you wish to contact us, kindly telephone:

CPF Office Monday to Friday 08h30 to 13h30 - 011-801-8576/7 or 082-448-9337

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WHAT IS VICTIM EMPOWERMENT?

A victim is anyone who has suffered harm or loss as a result of crime.

Victim empowerment is about making it possible for a victim of crime to heal and move on from the crime with the least possible harm or loss. It is the process of making sure that the victim is empowered to contribute to a process of restorative justice, by entrenching internationally accepted basic victims’ rights as agreed by the United Nations.

These rights include the right:

To be treated with respect and dignity

To offer information

To receive information

To legal advice

To protection

In certain circumstances victims also have the right to compensation

All government departments involved in the fight against crime have a role to play in empowering victims. Many non-governmental and community based organizations add their particular skills and resources to the delivery of an empowering service to victims of crime.

Victims of crime suffer some or all of the following: loss of goods, physical harm, mental distress, trauma, bereavement, disorientation, fear and anxiety. Perhaps this range of effects explains why no one is equipped to deal alone with the results of victimization.

EVERYONE can play a part:

If someone you know is a victim of crime, try and behave in a way that helps entrench the rights we have outlined.

Family and friends can play an important support role; employers can give a victim time off for counseling or to attend court; protection and practical help is often best provided from within the community.

You can also become more formally involved, through the Community Police Forum Trauma Unit.

We are fortunate in Honeydew that we have a Trauma Unit, which is run by a number of professional volunteers. This unit provides trauma debriefing to victims of crime in the Honeydew Precinct area.

To avail yourself of this service please contact the unit on 082-448-9337.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank ALL the trauma counselor volunteers, who give of their time to help our victims of crime.