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In keeping with our commitment to justice, fairness, and ethical action in humanitarian work as outlined in our Welcome Post, this blog post will introduce a crucial ethical practice in humanitarian communication: the trauma-informed approach. Drawing from my personal experiences with natural disasters, I will explore how this approach can help ensure the dignity and well-being of those affected by crises.
Growing up in Central Vietnam, a region often battered by typhoons and floods, I have become intimately familiar with the invisible wounds that natural disasters leave behind. I still vividly recall the 2020 floods in my hometown. Nine major typhoons and two tropical depressions battered our region, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Homes were destroyed, crops were ruined, cattle and poultry were swept away. The human toll was immense, with lives and families torn apart.
Every year, Viet Nam suffers from 6 to 7 typhoons on average, according to UNDP. Every year, we brace ourselves for their onslaught, hoping that our homes and communities will be spared. But even they are, the scars left behind are often as deep as the floodwaters. The impact goes far beyond the economic damage or material losses. The psychological trauma of experiencing such extreme can have a lasting effect on individuals and communities. Research on “Trauma exposure and mental health problems among adults in Central Vietnam” by Do TTH et al. (2019) found out that the most prevalent traumatic events in Central Vietnam are natural disasters, followed by transportation accidents and life-threatening illnesses. These stressors, combined with the country history of war and poverty, have contributed to a significant burden of trauma.
The local media coverage of natural disasters in Vietnam is a tragic refrain that repeats year after year, and survivors are often treated as victims, rather than individuals who may require specialized support to cope with their trauma. In humanitarian contexts, while accurately portraying the realities of suffering is crucial, mental health often appears to be overlooked as a vital aspect of recovery. This neglect is particularly evident in the lack of trauma-informed approaches in both humanitarian aid and journalism.
Consider the recent tragedy of Typhoon Yagi in Northern Vietnam, along with subsequent flooding and landslides, which left 329 people dead or missing and injured 1,929 others. Vietnam National Television (VTV) quickly produced a reportage video about a 8-year-old boy named Bao, who lost his sister and father in the raging floodwaters while three of them were crossing a bridge. In the interview at his house (24:45-24:56), Bao recounted his harrowing experiences in detail, reliving the traumatic event just days after it occurred. In a subsequent live show (31:39-32:02), Bao was asked a deeply personal question: “What is your best memory of your father?”. This question, posed in front of a large audience and broadcast live on television, undoubtedly triggered painful emotions for the young boy who had just experienced such a tragic accident.
This incident highlights the potential for re-traumatization when survivors are subjected to media scrutiny. While evoking empathy is important, it’s equally important to do so in a way that is sensitive to the needs of survivors. As Gorin (2024, p. 283) points out, affective images and emphatic words can “make suffering palatable, to persuade or command people to act”; they still raise questions about the moral implications of observing suffering from a distance by “who do not experience it directly and who, as such, may be regarded as fortunate or lucky people”, as Boltanski (1999) suggests. Moreover, it is worth highlighting the importance of obtaining informed and genuine consent, which is one of the key practices of trauma-informed approach. As Gorin (2024, p. 289) continues noting, power imbalances within the aid sector hinder the ability of individuals to provide informed consent, because there is a risk that refusing to participate in media coverage may lead to exclusion from essential services.
So, what are the key principles of trauma-informed approach?
According to UNICEF (2023), these following six key principles can be used by all professionals who work with survivors:
- Safety: Assessment and reinforcement of the survivor’s safety needs
- Strength, resilience, and survival: Recognition of the survivor’s inherent strength from having survived his/her/their trauma
- Rebuilding of community: Provision of opportunity for survivors to connect to a community
- Telling is acting: Recognition of the survivor’s agency and power in choosing to tell his/her/their story
- Cultural competency: Engagement with survivors in ways that embrace and reflect their chosen cultural origins and values
- Meaning-making: Validation and acknowledgment of survivors’ unique, subjective way of making meaning of their experiences
How about trauma-informed journalism?
In a world where traumatic events are increasingly prevalent, it’s imperative for journalists to approach their stories with sensitivity and understanding. As highlighted in a guide by the NBCU Academy on trauma-informed journalism (Carra, 2024), trauma-informed journalism involves reporting on stories with a deep awareness of trauma and its impacts on survivors. The following key takeaways are extracted from this guide, which incorporates advice from experienced journalists and trauma experts:
- Prepare for interviews with care: As advised by Bruce Shapiro, Executive Director of the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, journalists should research survivors’ backgrounds, plan interviews carefully, and create a safe environment. Nicole Acevedo, an NBC News reporter, emphasizes the importance of starting with easy questions to ground survivors in the present moment.
- Minimize re-traumatization: Tamara Cherry, a former TV journalist and trauma professional, advises journalists to respect survivors’ wishes regarding identification and language. She also emphasizes the importance of choosing visuals carefully to avoid re-traumatization.
- Tell their stories with sensitivity: Nicole Acevedo stresses the importance of centering the survivor’s perspective and avoiding victim-blaming language. Nina Sen, NBC News standards director of race, class, and gender, emphasizes the importance of obtaining informed consent and allowing survivors to review their stories before publication.
- Prioritize self-care: Former TV journalist, certified trauma professional Jeanie Y. Chang highlights the importance of self-care for journalists covering traumatic events. She emphasizes that taking breaks from difficult stories and engaging in self-care activities is crucial for maintaining mental health and well-being.
As we mark Mental Health Awareness Month (October), it’s imperative to advocate for a trauma-informed approach in humanitarian contexts. Amidst the widespread use of hashtags like #MentalHealthMatters and #MentalHealthAwareness, it’s essential to strike a balance between raising awareness about the realities of humanitarian crises and protecting the mental health of those involved!
Chi Duong
Hi Chi,
I really liked your blog post! The way you shared your personal experience with the typhoons in Vietnam made it so real and powerful. It’s clear how much thought you put into explaining trauma-informed journalism—it’s such an important topic.
The part about Bao’s story on VTV was especially eye-opening. It’s heartbreaking to think about how survivors like him can be re-traumatized by certain kinds of media coverage. You explained that really well, and it definitely made me reflect on the responsibility journalists have in these situations.
Another thing I found really interesting was the discussion on power imbalances in humanitarian contexts and how this impacts consent. It made me think about how we often overlook these dynamics in media coverage. I wonder if you’ve come across any examples where these imbalances were handled well, or perhaps where they weren’t, to illustrate the point further.
Thanks for such a meaningful post—it gave me a lot to think about!
Hi Elia,
Thank you so much for your encouraging words! I really appreciate you taking the time to reflect on the blog post.
To your question about examples of power imbalances in humanitarian contexts, your comment reminded me of my own experience working as a communications volunteer for an international NGO in Vietnam. The NGO ran a free eye surgery program for low-income patients, and my role involved translating media consent forms and explaining them to patients.
I remember that some patients hesitated when I asked for their consent to use their photos or stories in media coverage. Many initially seemed unsure whether refusing consent might jeopardize their chance for surgery. I always reassured them that their decision would have no impact whatsoever on the care they were receiving. Over time, I noticed some patients became more comfortable rejecting media consent, which was a small but significant step toward them feeling empowered.
The power imbalance was clear in this situation, as many people in Vietnam hold deep respect and admiration for international funders, sometimes to the point where they feel obliged to comply. This taught me the importance of creating an environment where people feel truly free to make their own decisions, regardless of external pressures.
Thanks again for engaging with the post; your reflections mean a lot!
Best,
Chi
Hi Chi, thank you for sharing this post, I really enjoying reading it and also the very personal connection that you have with this reality. It is a miss in media in general I would say, that victims are de-humanized for the sake of news generation. And the more and more we see this content, the more we seem to also loose sensitivity to this tragedies. Do you think there is a difference between the perception of locals when they are confronted with such news and the way that people from other countries and realities would see them?
I have the feeling the more distance we have from a topic like this, the more we also disconnect from the feeling/gravity of the problem itself.
Hi Ana, thank you so much for your thoughtful comment and for taking the time to engage with the article. I really appreciate your point about the dehumanization of victims in media—this is such a critical issue, and it does shape how we emotionally and morally connect with these stories.
Personally, I’ve found that when I’ve experienced something similar, like the impact of a typhoon, it feels much more urgent and personal to act. But when it’s from afar, even if I can relate, the feelings tend to shift more toward pity, which feels less active.
This reminds me of something I came across in Boltanski’s Distant Suffering. He suggests that distance—both physical and emotional—can affect how we respond to suffering, often making it less immediate or impactful. I think your point about disconnection really captures this idea and highlights how important it is to tell stories in ways that keep the humanity of those affected at the center.
Best,
Chi
Hi Chi! Thank you for writing this post, it resonated deeply with me. It addresses the critical need for trauma-informed journalism, especially in reporting on crises in underrepresented regions. The example of Bao in Vietnam underscores the potential for re-traumatization when survivors are asked to recount painful experiences for media consumption, and I couldn’t help but think about it from my perspective and experiences. Mozambique, where I am from and live, is a country affected by severe natural disasters like Cyclone Idai, which displaced hundreds of thousands, ongoing terrorism in Cabo Delgado, with an estimated 4,000 deaths and over 800,000 IDPs, and recent protests met with violent crackdowns resulting in numerous deaths, injuries, and detentions. Yet, despite these significant events, international media coverage remains limited, raising the question of how to bring global attention without further harming those affected. Global coverage is important for gathering support, aid, and raising awareness… but at what cost?
Striking this balance is a delicate task. On one hand, immediate coverage is essential to mobilize support, but on the other, trauma-informed principles have long-term recovery and dignity for survivors, which can be challenging under tight media deadlines. Ethical reporting frameworks, including obtaining genuine consent and prioritizing cultural sensitivity, are essential in amplifying these stories while honoring the resilience of those affected, but how can we guarantee that the consent is genuine, when people have a perception that not participating will limit the support they get? And also, where people have limited literacy, and limited knowledge on mental health and trauma, so may not even realize that in being interviewed they are subjecting themselves to possible re-traumatization?
I guess there are no real answers to these questions, but I like that your post made me think of all these things. As a practitioner, challenging ideas and questioning practices is important for improvement. When I am next in Cabo Delgado speaking to IDPs, I will be thinking of this!
Best,
Miriam Sharif
Thank you for your insightful comment, Miriam. It’s truly heartening to connect with someone who shares similar experiences and concerns. The challenges you’ve highlighted in Mozambique are deeply concerning and mirror the issues we face in Vietnam.
You’ve raised some important points about the complexities of obtaining genuine consent, especially in contexts where people may feel pressured or coerced, or in regions with limited literacy and understanding of trauma-informed approaches. It’s a delicate balance, and it’s essential to empower communities and individuals to make informed decisions about their participation in media coverage.
I believe that capacity-building for local journalists and humanitarian workers is a crucial step towards more ethical and sensitive reporting. By providing training on trauma-informed practices, we can equip them with the tools to handle sensitive topics with care and respect. Additionally, engaging with community gatekeepers can help build trust and ensure that the voices of survivors are amplified authentically.
Ultimately, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to these challenges. It’s an ongoing process of learning and adaptation. Thank you again for sharing your valuable insights, and I look forward to continuing the conversation.
Best,
Chi