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Trauma-informed first aid is something we rarely talk about. We train people to save lives, but what happens to the first aider after a serious accident, cardiac arrest or traumatic emergency?

In this episode of Shoulder to Shoulder, Cate speaks to Catherine Arnold about the psychological impact of giving first aid, bystander trauma and why peer support could be a vital missing piece for first aiders.

Drawing on her own experience of responding to a serious road traffic accident while working as a Red Cross first aid trainer, Catherine explains how the incident affected her mental health and changed the way she viewed first aid training.

We also explore the fight, flight or freeze response, why trained first aiders can struggle in the moment, and why better emotional support after an emergency could help people process what happened and continue in their role.

In this episode:

• What first aid trauma and bystander trauma can look like
• Why first aiders can freeze during an emergency
• The psychological impact of witnessing serious accidents and cardiac arrests
• Why workplace first aiders may need better emotional support
• How peer support can help people process traumatic incidents
• The difference between first aiders and first responders
• Why calling 999 can be one of the most important actions a first aider takes
• How lived experience is shaping Catherine’s work
• What organisations and employers could do differently after a serious workplace incident
• Catherine’s vision for a peer support network for first aiders

Show Notes:

Trauma Informed First Aid Website
Sign up to the Trauma Informed First Aid Newsletter
Trauma Informed First Aid on LinkedIn
GoodSAM Responder
St John Ambulance – First Aid Volunteering Roles
Real First Aid – Adrenaline
Frontiers in Psychiatry – Research Article

Shoulder to Shoulder is a podcast by With-you about mental health, lived experience, recovery, peer support and the conversations that can help us better understand ourselves and each other.

With-you’s First Aiders Peer Support Network is an online community offering connection, shared understanding, and exploration of how peer based & trauma informed approaches can support recovery after a critical incident and form an essential part of responsible First Aid culture.

Click here to register and join the next meeting on the 2nd October! With-you - First Aiders Peer Support Network

Follow Shoulder to Shoulder for more honest conversations about mental health, recovery, lived experience and peer support.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

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For the next few weeks we're going right back to where Shoulder to Shoulder began over two years ago, revisiting the first six episodes of the podcast and the conversations that helped shape the series.

These early episodes introduced us to people speaking honestly about lived experience, mental health, recovery, and what peer support really looks like in everyday life.

Listening back now, they still feel just as relevant. The heart of the series has always been the same: people who have been through difficult experiences, sitting alongside others to remind them they are not alone.

In this second episode of Shoulder to Shoulder by With You, we revisit Mark's powerful story of surviving childhood abuse, living with the impact of trauma, and finding hope through recovery.

Mark speaks openly about the lasting effects abuse had on his mental health and the challenges he faced as he grew up. At the heart of the conversation is the role peer support played in his recovery, sometimes through formal support, but often through the understanding, compassion and encouragement of the people around him.

Now working in policing, Mark reflects on how his own lived experience helps him support others facing difficult times, showing how recovery can become a source of strength and connection.

As we look back on the first six episodes, Mark's story is a powerful reminder of why peer support matters and how lived experience can offer hope, understanding and the reassurance that no one has to face life's challenges alone.

Hosted by Cate Munro, Shoulder to Shoulder explores these conversations with peer supporters from all walks of life.

Please note: This episode contains discussions of historical child abuse, which some listeners may find distressing. Listener discretion is advised.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk

Send us Fan Mail

For the next few weeks we’re going right back to where Shoulder to Shoulder began over two years ago, revisiting the first six episodes of the podcast and the conversations that helped shape the series.

These early episodes introduced us to people with powerful lived experience, honest reflections on mental health, and a deep belief in the value of peer support.

Listening back now, they still feel just as relevant. These early episodes introduced us to people speaking honestly about lived experience, mental health, recovery, and what peer support actually looks like in real life.

They still matter, because the heart of it was always the same, people who had been through something difficult, sitting alongside others who needed to know they weren’t on their own.

In this first episode of Shoulder to Shoulder by With You, we revisit where the podcast began with Anita’s powerful story of identity, culture, motherhood and peer support.

She shares her journey from childhood in Africa to building a life in Manchester, reflecting on the challenges of adapting to a new country and the importance of connection during difficult times.

At the heart of the conversation is the impact of peer support and how it helped her feel seen and understood, and why support from those with lived experience can be so meaningful. Anita also talks about co-founding Holding Her Space, an organisation supporting mothers and families through pregnancy and early parenting.

As we look back on the first six episodes, this conversation captures what the series set out to do: highlight the people behind peer support and the difference it makes in mental health and everyday life.

Hosted by Cate Munro, Shoulder to Shoulder explores these stories with peer supporters from all walks of life.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

With-you consultancy: www.with-you.co.uk