Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services

“Trauma” refers to a single event, multiple events, or a set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically and emotionally harmful or threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual’s physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being. Common traumatic events include domestic and intimate partner violence, physical abuse, community and school violence, medical trauma, natural disasters, terrorism, neglect, and refugee and war zone trauma.

CHILDREN
On average 1 out of 4 children will experience some traumatic event by age 16

• Becomes easily alarmed
• Problems paying attention
• Fearful of being away from caregiver(s)
• Complains of stomach aches or headaches
• Being shy/withdrawn and unusually aggressive
• Sleep problems disguised as late night studying, television-watching, or partying

There is an estimated $103 billion per year cost due to childhood untreated trauma

ADULTS
In the United States, 223.4 million people have experienced some type of traumatic event at least once in their life

• Survivor’s guilt
• Reliving the trauma
• Feeling disconnected and numb
• Being constantly on guard or hyper-aroused
• Problems in daily living (work, relationships, etc.)
• Start and/or increase use of drugs and alcohol

60% of men and 50% of women have experienced a traumatic event in their lifetime