INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA SOCIAL WORK SERIES

Those who experience trauma should seek proper care and healing as soon as possible, and they need resources to do that. Addressing Collective Trauma After Major EventsĪddressing collective trauma will not only support individuals but also nurture a healthier society. Researchers examining families affected by war in Bosnia and Herzegovina found that some daughters of Bosnian women who were abused experienced flashbacks to sexual abuse although they themselves had not experienced it. Parents may pass on their psychological legacies to their children. According to an article on PTSD in The European Journal of Psychotraumatology, the study results showed that those events affected about 1.45 billion people and that about 354 million war survivors were diagnosed with PTSD and/or MD as of 2015.

The study carried out by University of Münster researchers examined all countries that had experienced at least one local form of conflict between 19. One review of populations directly exposed to war and social unrest indicated a high instance of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depression (MD). Numerous studies attest to collective trauma’s impact. People internalize others’ devastating experiences in what is known as secondary or vicarious trauma. Kennedy’s assassination in 1963 affected the entire nation. Just because individuals were not present for a life-threatening incident does not mean it did not impact them. When speaking of collective trauma, noting that trauma can be both primary and secondary is important. Many find this process of acknowledgement, identification, and action transformative. Having identified the inciting event’s root cause to feel fear within their surroundings, they take action. In the wake of school shootings, some Americans participated in social justice activism by marching or signing petitions that call for stricter gun control.

An understanding of the trauma’s root cause is also important in successfully addressing it. Understanding The Impact of Collective TraumaĬollective trauma does not occur in a vacuum but within a wider sociopolitical context. While it may not be averted, trauma can be addressed. Other instances come as natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005 or the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004. Traumatic incidents can be identified throughout history, from the Holocaust to apartheid to 9⁄ 11, to name just a few. That is, these events are a shared experience that alter the narrative and psyche of a group or community.” “These events are different from other forms of traumatic events because of their collective nature. Leia Saltzman, assistant professor at Tulane University School of Social Work.

“Collective trauma is an event, or series of events that shatters the experience of safety for a group, or groups, of people,” explains Dr. Bombings, gun violence, natural disasters, and war are just some examples of collective trauma. Trauma is not limited to one person, however. When an individual faces violence or a life-threatening event, they may experience subsequent trauma in the form of emotional or mental distress and physical symptoms.

INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA SOCIAL WORK SERIES

Intergenerational trauma social work