The Centre national de ressources et de résilience (Cn2r) today announced the launch of a major theme devoted to social support in connection with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Over the next two years, this issue will be at the heart of our work.
The choice of this theme is based on a well-documented fact: the quality of social support is a determining factor in the prevention of PTSD after a traumatic event. People who receive appropriate support from family and friends, professionals or associations have a lower risk of developing PTSD, and recover more quickly when affected by the disorder.
"A caring environment not only protects psychologically, it also acts on the physiology of stress. An individual who feels supported will have a more balanced hormonal response, which limits the deleterious effects of chronic stress," explains Marion Trousselard.
Beyond the individual benefits, social support also promotes collective resilience: by mobilizing solidarity within families, communities or institutions, it helps to restore social bonds put to the test by trauma, and strengthens a group's ability to cope together with hardship.
Informing, supporting, raising awareness
Over the next two years, Cn2r will be rolling out a range of initiatives aimed at better understanding and strengthening social support for people faced with a potentially traumatic event:
- New fact sheets and dossiers will be published on the Cn2r website to support families, professionals and people affected, with a particular focus on the issue of bonding. Cn2r will also be promoting the voices of those affected and those working in the field, notably through a new series of videos.
- Webinars and other events will be organized to encourage exchanges between researchers, professionals and associations, and to explore best practices in social support.
A long-term commitment
This new line of work is part of Cn2r's broader mission: to improve understanding, prevention and management of PTSD in France. Since its creation, the center has focused its actions on disseminating scientific knowledge, recognizing the experience of those affected and supporting professionals working in the field.
Emphasizing social support means recognizing that no one should have to face the consequences of trauma alone. By choosing social support as its theme for the next two years, Cn2r is reaffirming its commitment to advancing knowledge and practices in the service of people affected by psychotrauma.
Wang Y, Chung MC, Wang N, Yu X, Kenardy J. Social support and posttraumatic stress disorder: A meta-analysis of longitudinal studies.Clinical Psychology Review. 2021; 85: 101998. doi : 10.1016/j.cpr.2021.101998
Platt J, Keyes KM, Koenen KC. Size of the social network versus quality of social support: which is more protective against PTSD?Social Psychiatry And Psychiatric Epidemiology. 2013; 49(8): 1279-1286. doi: 10.1007/s00127-013-0798-4
