Health Spotlight: Trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Trauma is an emotional response to a very stressful, frightening or distressing event or series of events that overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope. There are different types of traumas including:

• Acute trauma: happens after a single incident
• Chronic trauma: develops from repeated and long-lasting events
• Complex trauma: arises from exposure to multiple traumatic events³

It’s normal to have feelings of fear and anxiety after a traumatic event but in some cases, these feelings can last for a long time and affect how we cope with everyday life. PTSD can develop where the trauma is prolonged. There is a greater risk of PTSD where the trauma stems from a serious accident, receiving a life-threatening diagnosis, sexual assault, ongoing physical or emotional abuse and neglect, or from acts of war that include military combat, torture and terrorism.⁴

Trauma can have lasting effects on mental, physical, emotional, social or spiritual wellbeing. The warning signs of trauma can vary widely but often include intrusive thoughts, flashbacks or nightmares. Individuals may avoid reminders of the trauma and show hypervigilance, become easily startled, or withdrawn. Changes in mood such as irritability, anger, or sadness are common, along with difficulty concentrating or sleeping. Physical symptoms like headaches, stomach aches, or fatigue may also be present.⁵

International studies estimate that people with PTSD are 15 times more likely to attempt suicide, four times more likely to become addicted to drugs and alcohol, three times more likely to experience depression, and three times more likely for their trauma to impact their work.⁶

Several factors can increase the chances of experiencing trauma or developing PTSD after a traumatic event. These may include going through intense or long-lasting trauma, having a history of previous trauma such as childhood abuse, or a family history of mental health issues like depression or anxiety. Lack of social support and substance abuse are also significant risk factors.

Some groups may be at higher risk, including people who experience homelessness, children in adoption or foster care or under youth justice supervision, refugees, those experiencing family and domestic violence, LGBTIQA+ individuals, and people in certain jobs like emergency services, armed forces and veterans.⁷