A trauma-informed anthology: Global perspectives view

By: Angeliki Kardamaki, Christen Kong, Gout Algloob Haj Elhassan, and Lalithashree Ganesh

What does trauma-informed practice look, feel, sound, taste, and smell like? Across the world, arts and health practitioners are creatively weaving trauma-informed care into their daily work, yet no two expressions are the same. Each is informed by cultural context, intergenerational knowledge, and the movement of ideas across borders, producing deeply local yet globally connected approaches to healing.

In the ‘Arts in Medicine Fellowship’ program, practitioners from around the world come together to explore the role of the arts in public health. Within the fellowship are 12 thematic interest groups, one being the ‘Mental Health and Trauma Recovery’ group as a space for rich dialogue and collaboration. 

This group, comprising a team including: Angeliki Kardamaki, Christen Kong, Gout Algloob Haj Elhassan, and Lalithashree Ganesh developed an anthology that brings together 40 multimedia artworks and reflections from practitioners across 16 countries. For a year, the team met weekly across 4 time zones, building a shared project grounded in a simple but powerful belief: art is a form of education that nurtures curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking; while making complex emotional experiences more accessible.

The anthology invited artist, practitioners, community members, and those with lived experiences of trauma to respond to the following questions: 

• What role do the arts play in trauma recovery within your community setting? 

• What are examples of culturally responsive or Indigenous practices that you have found effective in trauma-informed practice?

• How does your cultural context shape the way trauma is understood, expressed, or addressed in your community?

The anthology features 45 contributions from photography and poetry to audio, video, and illustration. The collection offers a living resource for exploring trauma-informed practice through diverse cultural lenses. Guided by the role of the arts in trauma recovery, culturally responsive and indigenous practices, and the ways trauma is understood and expressed across communities, the anthology invites both reflection and dialogue.

The anthology is rooted in traditions of storytelling, ritual, and ceremony. The project centers “knowledge sharers”, who offer their lived experiences with courage and care, alongside “artful responders”, who engage through their own creative practices. Together, they create a layered conversation where art responds to art, deepening connection and understanding. Throughout the anthology, reflective prompts encourage readers to slow down, engage their senses, and become active participants in the experience.

This cross-border anthology is more than a collection, it is an invitation. To listen, to feel, to question, and to imagine new possibilities for healing through the arts. 

Contact to learn more: art.medicine.fellowship@gmail.com