Trauma and the British Civil Wars

Join Dr Ismini Pells as she evaluates the evidence of trauma in the British Civil Wars and considers what this can tell us about the psychological impact of conflict today.

The mental health of soldiers throughout history has been a topic of growing interest in recent years. However, identifying and analysing historical trauma is a process that is filled with challenges, making it much more difficult to understand the nature of that trauma.

The British Civil Wars of the 17th century provide ample evidence that some individuals suffered from severe disorders that are potentially indicative of psychological trauma resulting from their wartime experiences. Although challenging, analysis of this data offers us a fascinating insight into the warfare of the period and the consequences of battle.

In this revealing talk, Dr Ismini Pells will uncover the circumstances that seem to have triggered these severe reactions. She will examine how trauma was described, treated and perceived at the time to see how this evidence might inform debates surrounding the psychological impact of conflict in the present.