According to the World Health Organization, more than 70% of people experience at least one significant traumatic event in their lifetime. Trauma profoundly affects both physical and mental health: it increases the risk of illness, shortens life expectancy, and alters patterns of thinking, communication, and behavior.
Among people with a history of trauma, some will avoid seeking healthcare altogether, while others will seek it excessively. When a patient with a history of trauma encounters healthcare providers who are not trauma-informed, it can trigger feelings of anxiety, disappointment, and misunderstanding on both sides and, as a result, harm the patient's health and discourage follow-up care and preventive medicine. A trauma-informed encounter, on the other hand, can foster a sense of satisfaction and empowerment, promoting better health outcomes and reducing staff burnout.
Trauma-Informed Care is an approach that assumes most people have experienced traumatic events and accounts for the physical, psychological, and behavioral impact of those experiences. A trauma-informed system actively works to create a safe environment for everyone within it, reduce the re-triggering of trauma during care encounters, and prevent secondary traumatization and burnout among staff.