Trauma is the response to a deeply distressing or disturbing event that overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope, causes feelings of helplessness, diminishes their sense of self and their ability to feel a full range of emotions and experiences.

• 70% of adults in the U.S. have experienced some traumatic event at least once in their lives. That’s roughly 223.4 million people, and that number grows every day.

• In public behavioral health, over 90% of clients have experienced trauma.

• The most common traumas are childhood abuse or neglect, witnessing violence, war and other violent acts, accidents and natural disasters, medical interventions, losing a loved one, and physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.

• As the number of traumatic events experienced during childhood increases, the risk for the following health problems in adulthood increases: depression, alcoholism, drug abuse, suicide attempts, heart and liver diseases.

• Trauma impacts every area of people’s lives and functioning, including the ability to take care of daily living activities, the ability to be a good parent, and the ability to work and be a functioning member of society.