A growing body of research shows that experiencing traumatic events raises an individual’s risk of long-term physical and behavioral health issues. As this connection becomes increasingly clear, trauma-informed approaches to care are being adopted as a crucial aspect of high-quality health care in hopes of improving patient engagement and outcomes while lowering costs.

This fact sheet explores the causes of trauma and how it can impact an individual’s health. It also examines opportunities to avoid or reverse the effects of trauma, how health care providers can help patients heal from trauma, and policy changes that can support trauma-informed care. See also the below companion slide presentation.

These resources are products 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.