Trauma Informed Care For Young Adults on Campus
The mental health of young adults is increasingly recognized as a crucial factor in their overall well-being and academic success. With rising awareness of the impact of trauma, colleges, universities, and various educational campuses are beginning to adopt trauma-informed care practices to better support their students. This approach recognizes the widespread impact of trauma and integrates knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices to create a supportive environment for everyone.
Trauma-informed care is an essential approach for college campuses, aimed at understanding, recognizing, and responding to the effects of all types of trauma. It plays a significant role in creating a supportive environment for young adults, fostering their mental health and academic success.
Understanding Trauma in Young Adults
Definition of Trauma
Trauma refers to the emotional and psychological response to distressing or life-threatening events. It can manifest in various forms, including physical, emotional, sexual abuse, neglect, or witnessing violence. Trauma can be a single event or a series of events that overwhelm an individual's ability to cope, causing a lasting impact on their mental health and well-being.
Common Forms of Trauma
Trauma can take many forms, including:
- Physical Abuse: Infliction of physical harm or injury.
- Emotional and Psychological Abuse: Verbal or non-verbal actions causing emotional harm.
- Sexual Abuse and Assault: Any non-consensual sexual activity.
- Neglect: Failure to provide necessary care and support.
- Bullying and Harassment: Repeated aggressive behavior causing harm or fear.
- Witnessing Violence or Disaster: Experiencing violence or catastrophic events indirectly.
Impact of Trauma on Young Adults
Trauma can have profound effects on young adults, influencing their mental health, academic performance, and social interactions. Common mental health issues include anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Academically, according to a study by Curr Psychol, trauma can hinder concentration, motivation, and performance, leading to lower grades and academic disengagement.
Socially, trauma can affect relationships and the ability to form healthy connections, leading to isolation and loneliness. Tragically, some young adults may feel overwhelmed by these issues and, without adequate support, may resort to self-harm or even suicide, something suicide counselors are educated to address.
What is Trauma-Informed Care?
Trauma-informed care is an approach that involves understanding, recognizing, and responding to the effects of trauma. It emphasizes physical, psychological, and emotional safety for providers and survivors and creates opportunities for survivors to rebuild a sense of control and empowerment. This approach is guided by fundamental principles such as safety, trustworthiness, peer support, collaboration, and cultural sensitivity.
Principles of Trauma-Informed Care
Encouraging peer support systems helps create a sense of community and belonging. Peer support can be particularly effective because students often feel more comfortable discussing their experiences with their peers, who may have shared similar experiences. This approach fosters a network of support that can significantly enhance students’ coping mechanisms and resilience.
Emphasizing teamwork and equal partnership between students and staff fosters a collaborative environment. Involving students in decision-making processes and respecting their input helps build mutual respect and empowerment. This collaboration ensures students feel valued and heard, promoting a more inclusive and responsive campus culture.
Giving students control and choice in their care is vital. Empowering students to make decisions about their support and treatment options helps them regain a sense of control and autonomy. This empowerment is crucial for their healing process and well-being, fostering independence and self-efficacy.
It is crucial to recognize and address diverse cultural backgrounds and experiences. Trauma-informed care should be sensitive to cultural, historical, and gender-specific issues influencing students’ experiences and needs. This sensitivity ensures that care is personalized and respectful of each student’s unique background, promoting inclusivity and understanding across the campus community.
Implementing these principles effectively can transform a campus into a supportive, empathetic, and resilient community. By adhering to these principles, campuses can create environments that not only acknowledge the presence of trauma but actively work to mitigate its effects, thereby fostering a healthier and more supportive atmosphere for all students.
Who is Impacted?
Trauma-informed care benefits many individuals on campus, including students, faculty, and staff. Students, in particular, benefit from a supportive environment that acknowledges their experiences and promotes healing and resilience. Faculty and staff trained in trauma-informed care can better support students and create a more inclusive and understanding campus community. Psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and mental health counselors are also trained to recognize and respond to trauma.
Why is Trauma-Informed Care Important for Teens?
The transition to college can be vulnerable for teenagers and young adults. Trauma-informed care is crucial because it helps create a safe and supportive environment that fosters mental health, enhances learning, and encourages personal growth. It acknowledges the pervasive impact of trauma and integrates this understanding into campus policies and practices, helping students navigate their college experience with better support and understanding.
Familiar Sources of Trauma for College Students
- Academic Pressure: The intense demands and high expectations in academics can lead to chronic stress and anxiety. The pressure to excel and the fear of failure can overwhelm many students.
- Social and Relationship Issues: Navigating friendships, romantic relationships, and social dynamics can be a source of significant emotional strain. Issues like bullying, peer pressure, and relationship conflicts can contribute to trauma.
- Financial Stress: The burden of student loans and economic instability can cause persistent worry and fear. Many students juggle part-time jobs and academic responsibilities, adding to their stress.
- Past Experiences: Many students carry the weight of past traumas, such as childhood abuse, neglect, or other adverse experiences. These unresolved traumas can resurface and affect their college life.
Do Trainings Help?
Training faculty, staff, and students in trauma-informed practices is vital. These trainings help create a campus culture that is sensitive to the needs of trauma-affected individuals, promoting empathy, understanding, and practical support strategies. Training programs can include workshops, seminars, and online courses that educate participants on recognizing trauma, understanding its impacts, and applying trauma-informed practices in their interactions and support services.
How to Create a Trauma-Informed or Trauma-Sensitive Classroom/Campus/Club
Creating a trauma-informed environment involves several key practices:
- Training and Education: Provide comprehensive training for faculty, staff, and students on trauma and its impacts. Educating the campus community about trauma and its effects is the first step in creating a supportive environment.
- Mental Health Services: Ensure accessible mental health services, including counseling and support groups. It is important to have on-campus mental health professionals who are trained in trauma-informed care.
- Supportive Policies: Develop policies that promote inclusivity, safety, and support for trauma-affected students. Policies should address issues like harassment and bullying and provide accommodations for students dealing with trauma.
- Safe Spaces: Create safe spaces and resource centers where students can find support and respite. These spaces should be welcoming and offer resources like counseling, peer support, and relaxation areas.
- Peer Support: Encourage peer support networks and student-led initiatives. Peer support can be incredibly beneficial, as students often feel more comfortable talking to their peers about their experiences.
Benefits of Trauma Informed Care for Campus Communities
Improved Mental Health Outcomes
Trauma-informed care leads to a significant reduction in mental health issues among students, fostering resilience and emotional well-being. Students’ overall mental health can significantly improve when they feel more supported and understood. This approach helps in addressing anxiety, depression, and PTSD more effectively by creating an environment that acknowledges their struggles and provides the necessary support systems. According to BMC Psychiatry, environments that incorporate trauma-informed practices see lower rates of mental health crises and better overall mental health outcomes.
Enhanced Academic Performance
Addressing the effects of trauma improves students’ academic engagement, leading to improved performance and success rates. A supportive environment helps students concentrate, stay motivated, and achieve academic goals. Trauma can severely impact a student’s ability to focus and perform academically, but with trauma-informed care, these barriers are reduced. Supportive measures such as flexible deadlines, mental health days, and personalized learning plans can significantly enhance a student's ability to perform well academically.
Stronger Community and Relationships
A trauma-informed campus cultivates a more supportive and empathetic culture, strengthening community bonds and relationships. Integrating trauma-informed principles into the campus culture promotes understanding and empathy among students, faculty, and staff. This supportive environment encourages stronger interpersonal relationships and a sense of belonging.
Students who feel part of a caring community are more likely to engage positively with their peers and faculty, participate in campus activities, and contribute to a positive campus environment. This sense of community is essential for personal and academic growth and the overall well-being of the campus population.
Definitions and Other Terms
Understanding key terms such as trauma, PTSD, resilience, and trauma-informed care is essential for implementing effective support strategies. Definitions and explanations of these terms help the campus community better understand the importance of trauma-informed care.
How to Identify Need
Recognizing signs of trauma and identifying students in need of support involves observing changes in behavior, academic performance, and social interactions. Faculty and staff should be trained to notice these signs and respond appropriately. Signs may include withdrawal, changes in mood, declining academic performance, and social isolation.
How to Advocate for Yourself
Students should be empowered to advocate for their needs by seeking support services, communicating with faculty, and participating in peer support groups. Encouraging self-advocacy is a crucial aspect of trauma-informed care. Students should know their rights, understand their available resources, and feel confident in seeking help when needed.
Trauma-Informed Care with College Educated
Implementing trauma-informed care on campuses is not just a beneficial addition; it’s a necessary transformation that fosters a healthier, more supportive environment for all students. By recognizing the pervasive impact of trauma and integrating this understanding into campus policies and practices, we can significantly improve mental health outcomes, enhance academic performance, and strengthen community bonds.
Helpful Resources
Articles
Trauma-Informed Care: Recognizing and Resisting Re-Traumatization in Health Care
This article, available through the National Library of Medicine, features examples from healthcare settings to show that trauma care is a collective issue.
The researchers behind this article used various criteria to determine whether the training residents received helped patients dealing with trauma.
Read through this study to see the challenges facing healthcare professionals based on a systematic review of healthcare and clinical settings.
The Need for Trauma-Informed Care in Higher Education
Shannon S. Taylor discusses the effects COVID-19 had on people and the trauma it brought as she focuses on the increased need for trauma-informed care among students.
Trauma-Informed Colleges Begin with Trauma-Informed Leaders
Jason Lynch uses this article to review the top six tips for trauma-informed leadership, showing colleges what they can do to build the strong leaders that students need.
Trauma-Informed Care: What is it, and Why It’s Important
This article from the Harvard Health Blog uses a real-life example to explain how trauma can impact a patient before discussing trauma-informed care and its importance in the medical field.
This article from the Journal of Health Services Research & Policy focuses on how trauma-informed care can improve the health and well-being of patients struggling with trauma in their past.
Building Trauma-Informed Approaches in Higher Education
Several researchers examined the approaches used by trauma-informed doctors and professionals to see which ones worked best to help college students following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tommy Wells published this piece in the Journal of Effective Teaching in Higher Education to share the results of his survey, which looked at trauma-informed practices in 60 college classrooms.
How Do We Move Forward with Trauma-Informed Care?
The authors of this piece looked at the trauma that occurred during the pandemic and how it affected individuals to go over how trauma-informed care can help them recover in the future.
A team of researchers created an article to discuss how forming a Participatory Action Research (PAR) could help university students recover from past trauma and the benefits of these programs.
Trauma-Informed Practices in Higher Education: A Comprehensive Literature Review
This detailed review provides a thorough overview of the current literature and research on trauma-informed practices in college and university settings.
Creating Trauma-Informed Higher Education Classrooms
In this piece, Tommy Wells discusses the need for trauma-informed classrooms and how changing how professors and others treat students can help.
Trauma-Informed Practices for Postsecondary Education: A Guide
This PDF from the Pacific Northwest serves as a detailed guide on trauma-informed practices in education, including students at risk and the impacts trauma has on them.
Check out this article to see the pandemic’s effects on nursing school students and how applying trauma-informed care principles helped them recover.
This piece discusses trauma in the classroom, the six principles of trauma-informed care, and the TIP techniques that benefit students.
Supporting the Social/Emotional Needs of College Students Through Trauma-Informed Practice (TIP)
Discover the impact COVID-19 had on students and how it led to colleges and other schools needing trauma-informed practices to improve students’ social and emotional needs.
Clinician’s Voice: Trauma-Informed Practices in Higher Education
Josalin J. Hunter wrote this article using her experiences. It examines how trauma affects students and how using trauma-informed practices in education can help them.
Organizations
Trauma-Informed Care Implementation Resource Center
The Center for Health Care Strategies created this resource center to help others learn more about trauma-informed care, creating a safe environment, and similar subjects.
National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health
Find resources that are helpful to those with trauma or mental health issues as well as victims of domestic violence here, like in-depth training for health care professionals.
The Academy on Violence & Abuse hosts a major summit every year and has an extensive library of free resources and videos tackling important topics.
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
This organization aims to improve children’s and their families’ access to healthcare services. It provides information on trauma-informed care and training for workers.
Paces Connection’s blog tackles trauma-related issues and resources like detailed how-to guides and trauma care laws nationwide.
Named for artist Anna Caroline Jennings, the Anna Institute uses her experiences and artwork to raise awareness of childhood trauma while also supplying free resources to those in need.
GAINS Center for Behavioral Health and Justice Transformation
The GAINS Center provides resources for those struggling with trauma who need help and offers training opportunities like webinars and virtual learning through online communities.
PTSD: National Center for PTSD
The National Center for PTSD is available through the VA and provides resources to help visitors learn about PTSD, find videos and apps, and get help from professionals.
Podcasts
Jeff Friedman hosts this podcast, which brings in special guests to tackle topics like the troubled teen industry and how trauma-informed care can help teens regain their lives.
You can find multiple podcasts on this page that feature pediatricians and other healthcare workers discussing how and why trauma-informed care assists patients.
8 Podcast Episodes About Trauma
The Fostering Families Today website created a list of eight podcast episodes that detail trauma, with links to where to find each one.
6 Trauma-Informed Care Podcast Episodes
This website offers six podcast episodes that focus on trauma-informed care, each with a short description.
Trauma Rewired features several episodes that cover different types of trauma, such as disordered eating, autism, personal identity, and anxiety, that affect patients in various ways.
Something Was Wrong is a podcast series that brings survivors together to talk about their traumatic experiences. This has helped it win some major awards since its launch.
Going Inside: Healing Trauma from the Inside Out
In Going Inside, LPCC John Clarke talks with survivors, professionals, and experts about trauma and the effects it has on individuals, as well as how they can recover.
Emma Tatro invites friends and others to her Trauma Bonding podcast to share their traumatic experiences and discuss what helped them recover from them.
With more than 400 available episodes, the Therapy Chat Podcast features discussions between licensed social workers and other experts about therapeutic treatments and options.
The Therapist Uncensored Podcast delves deep into topics that relate to trauma-informed care, including managing feelings, the basics of attachment therapy, and hypnotist treatments.
The Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness Podcast
Listen to experts highlight the importance of mindfulness when recovering from traumatic events in this podcast, which includes episodes about eating disorders and other issues.
Every episode of The Trauma Therapist Podcast features a counselor or another expert who shares their experiences helping patients recover from traumatic events.
Videos
The Center for Health Care Strategies released this video, which covers the basics of trauma-informed care and its overall importance in under four minutes.
Addressing Childhood Trauma Through Trauma-Informed Care
Pediatric experts discuss trauma and trauma-informed care in this video, including how to screen for trauma, prescriptions that help patients, and the current treatment options.
Understanding Trauma & The Six Core Principles of a Trauma-Informed Approach Video
In this video, discover the six principles that experts use to guide and help patients in trauma-informed care settings better understand what the term means.
Seattle Children’s designed a video that’s helpful for healthcare professionals who want to learn more about trauma-informed care and its impact on them.
The Trauma-Informed Care Implementation Resource Center designed the "What is Trauma-Informed Care?" video to explain this care and how it helps patients.
You don’t need to watch more than 100 videos in this playlist, but each one focuses on a different aspect of trauma-informed care, such as the various types of trauma.
Keystone Edition: Trauma-Informed Care
Available on the PBS website, this video discusses trauma-informed care, how it works, and how addressing a patient’s past trauma can help them today.
Trauma-Informed Practice: MARAM Animation Series
This video, just over two minutes long, uses simple animation to explain how people respond to trauma and how trauma-informed practice can help them.
Foundations of Trauma-Informed Care Videos
The organization Trauma-Informed Oregon shares videos on its websites that cover topics like applied principles, toxic stress caused by trauma, and the science behind trauma-informed care.
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