PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)

Service members put themselves at risk for death or injury and may see others harmed or killed; they themselves may have to kill or wound others in combat. They often must be on high alert. Many service members are away from their homes and families for long periods of time. These and other factors increase the chance of developing stressor related disorders such as PTSD or other mental health problems.

Bullying is any intentional action taken to intimidate, embarrass, coerce, or otherwise dominate another person or group. It is often repeated and involves a perceived imbalance of power. Some common settings for bullying are school, workplace, or cyber-bullying.  

Child abuse may be physical, emotional, or sexual.  Another form of maltreatment is neglect.  The CDC defines childhood abuse as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or other caregiver (e.g., clergy, coach, teacher) that results in harm, the potential for harm, or the threat of harm to a child.

Community Violence includes threats, assaults, fights, or shootings between unrelated individuals who may or may not know each other. It occurs in public places such as neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces.

Complex trauma, also known as Developmental Trauma, includes children’s exposure to multiple traumatic events, often at the hands of a caregiver. This type of trauma is particularly damaging to the developing child and has a broad, long-term impact in the following ways: difficulty developing a sense of safety, increases chronic illnesses, and trouble forming positive relationship bonds.

Natural disasters can cause tremendous loss. From damage or total loss of one’s home, belongings, and neighborhood, to even the death of family or friends, there can be lasting stressors in the aftermath of such events.

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), also referred to as domestic violence, occurs when an individual purposely causes harm or threatens harm to any current or previous partner. This may include stalking, physical, psychological, or sexual abuse. IPV has long-lasting, serious effects on physical and mental health. 

Early childhood trauma refers to various kinds of adversity and traumatic experiences that occur early in one’s life, usually before age 6.

First responders are usually the first on the scene to face challenging, dangerous, and draining situations. They are also the first to reach out to disaster survivors and provide emotional and physical support to them.  It is estimated that 30 percent of first responders develop behavioral health conditions including, but not limited to, depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).