Trauma and a Trauma-Informed Approach
What is trauma?
Trauma can impact individuals in many ways.
At the individual level, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines trauma as resulting “from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being.” This is also known as the “3 E’s,” as depicted in the figure below.
Image: From Valley Cities Behavioral Health’s ACEs and Behavioral Health Workers Slide Deck
To understand trauma, we have to also take a step back and look at the bigger picture.
What happens beyond the individual level?
Trauma can impact communities as a whole. Historical trauma can result from experiences including genocide, slavery, forced relocation, and destruction of cultural practices. Individuals within the communities impacted by these experiences may personally carry that trauma with them and to future generations. Historical trauma also continues to manifest itself today, contributing to an increased likelihood in microaggressions, health disparities, substance abuse, and mental illness impacting these communities. (From the University of Minnesota Extension)
Trauma is further perpetuated by the systems we are in. These include systems of behavioral health, child welfare, medicine, education, and criminal justice. The practices and policies operating within these systems can often be trauma-inducing (e.g., harsh disciplinary practices in schools). These systems can inadvertently re-traumatize those who have experienced trauma in the past and get in the way of their ability to help people. Addressing trauma then requires us to address these systems. (From SAMHSA’s Practical Guide for Implementing a Trauma-Informed Approach)
So, how do we address trauma?
First, we must acknowledge that most of us have had traumatic experiences.
There are steps that we can take as individuals, as part of an organization, and as part of a community. Beyond providing specific resources for people who have experienced trauma, we need to develop a more trauma-informed approach to how we provide care to all.
Trauma-informed approach (TIA), or trauma-informed care (TIC), is not something we do, but how we do what we do.
TIAs can look different for every organization, but the core concepts behind those approaches can be described by SAMHSA’s 6 guiding principles, shown in the figure below. These principles shape how an organization is structured and how its services impact the community around it. These principles also direct an organization’s attention to areas that are to be continually assessed and improved.
Image: From Virginia No Wrong Door Person-Centered Trauma-Informed Care Website
Additional Resources
To learn more about trauma and a trauma-informed approach, check out the following resources:
Next steps: How do we adopt a more trauma-informed approach in our efforts as an organization?
There is no one path to becoming more trauma-informed, and the journey is continuous. But, wherever you are and wherever you want to go, we can help you get started!
If your organization is new to concepts critical to this work, like adverse childhood experiences, resilience, or trauma-informed care, or simply wants a refresher…Sign up for our trainings that best meet your organization’s needs. We can help guide you from there!
If you are looking for credible resources, like assessments or frameworks, to incorporate into your current efforts towards becoming more trauma-informed…Explore our trauma-informed care resource library.
If you want to connect with other organizations who are involved in trauma-informed efforts and want to stay up-to-date with the latest resources and events in Durham…Sign up for our DART monthly newsletter.
Want to share a resource, event, or just chat about the work your organization is doing, with DART?
Email Bridget Nelson at bnelson@dconc.gov. Bridget is the Adverse Childhood Experiences and Resilience Coordinator at the Durham County Public Health Department.