SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach
Date
2014
Authors
Journal Title
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Publisher
SAMHSA’s Trauma and Justice Strategic Initiative
Abstract
Trauma is a widespread, harmful and costly public
health problem. It occurs as a result of violence,
abuse, neglect, loss, disaster, war and other
emotionally harmful experiences. Trauma has no
boundaries with regard to age, gender, socioeconomic
status, race, ethnicity, geography or sexual orientation.
It is an almost universal experience of people with
mental and substance use disorders. The need
to address trauma is increasingly viewed as an
important component of effective behavioral health
service delivery. Additionally, it has become evident
that addressing trauma requires a multi-pronged,
multi-agency public health approach inclusive of
public education and awareness, prevention and
early identification, and effective trauma-specific
assessment and treatment. In order to maximize the
impact of these efforts, they need to be provided
in an organizational or community context that is
trauma-informed, that is, based on the knowledge
and understanding of trauma and its far-reaching
implications.
Description
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Keywords
trauma informed treatment
Citation
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach. HHS Publication No. (SMA) xx-xxxx. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2014