Trauma Aid UK

24/07/2026

We are delighted to share that a paper written by Dr Mustafa Makhzoum, a colleague of Trauma Aid UK, has been accepted for participation in Mental Health Conference 2026, organized by the Syrian Association for Mental Health (SAMH). The paper's title is "The Psychological and Social Effects of War and Displacement and Their Relationship to Emotional Balance Among Children in the Jarabulus Area".

In Dr Makhzoum's words, "I pray that God grants me success in presenting a scientific contribution that helps support the mental health of children affected by war and displacement, and I thank everyone who supported me and contributed to the completion of this work."

This is exciting news for Dr Makhzoum in his development as a mental health professional, and an important contribution to trauma research in Syria. Congratulations Dr Makhzoum!

29/06/2026

Have a look at the latest article up on Trauma Aid UK's website about EMDR psychotherapy in Syria. Dr Mustafa Makhzoum and his wife Dr Safaa Assisi spoke about the many challenges that still face the Syrian health care system, their desire to develop professionally and the help they received through Trauma Aid UK.

Dr Mustafa Makhzoum and his wife Dr Safaa Assisi are professional psychotherapists working in Syria. Through Dr Khaled Sultan, a UK EMDR Consultant, who observed Dr Makhzoum’s critical work in Homs, he was introduced to Trauma Aid UK President Shiraz Farrand. According to Dr Makhzoum, training wit...

15/02/2026

Trustees and volunteers of Trauma Aid UK came together for our strategy day in January. We covered the many milestones reached, and our next steps, working towards our vision of a world where communities affected by trauma have access to effective psychological treatments.

Throughout the day, it was fantastic to see such an experienced and passionate team meeting in person and sharing ideas.

Key highlights included:
- Celebrating how far TAUK has come since launching the 3-year strategy in 2024
- Welcoming new trustee and treasurer Idika Amogu to the team
- Setting out a plan across work streams to deliver further impact for traumatised communities in the upcoming year

03/02/2026

Take a look at this recently published article by Megan Burkinshaw and Trauma Aid UK trustee Matthew Wilcockson.

The review investigates whether peer-to-peer psychological interventions improve trauma-related outcomes, common mental health problems, and functioning and wellbeing for refugees in resettled countries.

Purpose. Barriers to accessing healthcare exist for refugees, suggesting the need for culturally appropriate interventions such as peer-delivered treatment. There is limited research regarding the effectiveness of peer-led interventions, thus this systematic review aims to investigate whether peer-t...

22/01/2026

"In 2026, we will bring hope to others, as a charity and EMDR community. We will help people affected by trauma to see through the darkness of now, that life is a gift and one worth living.

I look forward to the coming year, working and learning alongside colleagues from the UK, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Tunisia, Syria, Sudan, USA and Canada.

The Trauma Aid UK supported network of professionals is growing and I'm confident of how much more we will achieve in future. Thank you for a wonderful 2025."

A message from Shiraz Farrand, President of Trauma Aid UK, for the New Year

02/12/2025

Congratulations to Dr Hamodi Kayal for achieving EMDR Europe Trainer status! Dr Kayal is a passionate humanitarian who has volunteered for Trauma Aid UK since 2012, playing a key role in our Arab Countries project.

As a trainer, he has been instrumental in training trauma specialists in areas impacted by conflict and natural disaster, ensuring effective training can be provided in their own language.

A quote from a supervisee, trained by Hamodi: “Having EMDR training in our own language means therapists can truly connect with the material, and in turn, with their clients. It makes healing more accessible, more immediate, and more deeply rooted in our communities.”