Research has shown that exposure to trauma increases an individual’s lifelong risk for serious health issues. Adopting a trauma-informed approach to care may improve patient engagement, enhance outcomes, and reduce avoidable care and excess costs for both the health care and social service sectors. This infographic explores: “What is trauma?”, “What is the impact of trauma on health?”, and “How can providers become trauma-informed?” See also the companion brief, Key Ingredients for Successful Trauma-Informed Care Implementation, and fact sheet, Key Ingredients for Trauma-Informed Care.

This resource is a product of Advancing Trauma-Informed Care, a national initiative aimed at understanding how trauma-informed approaches can be practically implemented across the health care sector, led by the Center for Health Care Strategies through support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.