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What is trauma?
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, www.nimh.nih.gov, trauma is not only physical injury but can be experienced as psychological trauma after witnesses or experiencing distressing events. Trauma can be caused by:
Natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, tornados and floods
Acts of violence - such as terrorist attacks and mass shootings
Motor vehicle accidents and other accidents
Trauma affects different people in different ways, especially children and youth. Reactions to trauma may often be delayed and different from person-to-person, and the responses and severity can include a wide range of behaviors and responses, sometimes influenced by culture. Factors that may make people more sensitive to trauma include:
Direct involvement in the trauma, especially as a victim
Having severe or prolonged exposure to the event
Having a personal history of trauma
Having a family or personal history of mental illness or severe behavioral problems
Having limited social support or a lack of caring family and friend
Having ongoing life stressors such as moving to a new school or a new home
Common Responses to Trauma Among Children
Children Ages Five and Younger May:
Cling to parents or caregivers.
Cry and be tearful.
Have tantrums and be irritable.
Complain of physical problems such as stomachaches and headaches.
Suddenly return to behaviors such as bed-wedding and thumb-sucking.
Show increased fearfulness (for example, of the dark, monsters, or being alone).
Incorporate aspects of the traumatic event into imaginary play.
Children Ages Six to 11:
Have problems in school.
Isolate themselves from family and friends.
Have nightmares, refuse to go to bed, or experience other sleep problems.
Become irritable, angry, or disruptive.
Be unable to concentrate.
Complain of physical problems such as stomachaches and headaches.
Develop unfounded fears.
Lose interest in activities.
Children Ages12 to 17 May:
Have nightmares or other sleep problems.
Avoid reminders of the event.
Use or abuse drugs, alcohol, or tobacco.
Be disruptive or disrespectful or behave destructively.
Complain of physical problems such as stomachaches and headaches.
Become isolated from family and friends.
Be angry or resentful.
Lose interest in fun activities.
If You or Someone You Know Is in Crisis and Needs Immediate Help:
⊲ Call your doctor.
⊲ Call 911 for emergency services or go to the nearest emergency room.
⊲ Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a 24-hour toll-free hotline, at 800-273-TALK (8255). The deaf and hard of hearing can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 800-799-4889. The Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
⊲ Contact social media outlets directly if you are concerned about a person’s social media updates or dial 911 in an emergency.
For more information about how to contact social media outlets, visit the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at:
For more information on helping children and adolescents cope with diesters and other traumatic events, click on the image and you will be brought to a pdf brochure available for download.
All information has been taken from:
National Institute of Mental Health
Office of Science Policy, Planning, and Communications
Science Writing, Press, and Dissemination Branch
6001 Executive Boulevard
Room 6200, MSC 9663
Bethesda, MD 20892-9663
Phone: 301-443-4513 or
Toll-free: 866-615-NIMH (6464)
TTY: 301-443-8431 or
TTY Toll-free: 866-415-8051
Fax: 301-443-4279
Email: nimhinfo@nih.gov
Website: www.nimh.nih.gov
Kids Coping with Disasters and Traumatic Events.pdfPage updated
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