The Walls Came Crumbling Down: Trauma and Defective Blocks

From 2012 the defective blocks issue has emerged as a chronic crisis and has impacted all aspects of functioning for affected homeowners. The narrative arising from this traumatic event is presenting themes, constructing the knowledge base and skills for professionals across services, as they meet individuals, families, and communities presenting with cumulative longterm symptoms arising from this chronic critical event. Using applied crisis management theory this paper articulates emerging themes and understanding of traumatic impact and subsequent mental and emotional health issues for individuals, families and communities caught up in the defective block crisis. The paper proposes the importance of strength based finely tuned management of community recovery phases. We suggest that evidence, theory, and practice from the field of CISM and disaster management practice offers a foundation for the provision of symptom mitigation measures and community recovery from the impact of this long-term event.