Trauma-informed_Toolkit

The Trauma-informed Toolkit, second EditionWho Can Be Traumatized?Anyone can be traumatized. No one is immune. It iswidespread throughout the world and affects every part of thepopulation. Numerous studies, such as the Adverse ChildhoodExperiences Study by Vincent Felitti M.D. and Robert Anda M.D.(www.cdc.gov/ace/prevalence.htm), suggest that at least 75% ofthe population has experienced at least one traumatic event intheir life.Individuals of all ages, socio-economic status, cultures,religions and sexual orientations (including lesbian, gay,bisexual, transgender and two spirit*) can be profoundlyaffected. [The term “two-spirit” is an Aboriginal term referring tothose who have both male and female spirits.]Families can be traumatized by an event happening to oneor more of its members. Even people who did not directlyexperience the trauma can be impacted by it, especially if theyhave a close relationship to the individual who experiencedthe trauma.Communities can be traumatized when events effect any of itsmembers.Cultures can be traumatized when repeated denigration,attempts at assimilation and genocide occur. First Nationscommunities in North America continue to live with theimpact of the intergenerational trauma of colonization and theresidential school system. Following 9/11, the North Americanculture became organized around fear and terror as a directresult of the trauma experienced from that event. In addition,other countries have experienced trauma that has impactedtheir culture, including Sudan, Rwanda, Syria and Cambodia.Service providers can be traumatized after hearing the storiesand witnessing the suffering of clients who have experiencedtrauma. This is called “vicarious trauma” or “trauma exposureresponse,” and it happens when the provider is regularly12