Regardless of when and how trauma occurs, the effects can be long and severe. For employers, understanding what trauma is and how it can impact employees is an essential part of offering the right kind of support.
An estimated 70% of adults in the United States have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lifetime, and up to 20% of these people go on to develop post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a survey by the World Mental Health Consortium. Psychologists break trauma into two categories: Large “T” traumas, like sexual assault, accidents, abuse and military combat, cause severe emotional pain and impedes a person’s daily functioning. Small “t” traumas, though not life-threatening, affect how people view themselves and can include divorce, conflict at home or work, infidelity, having or adopting a child and financial or legal troubles.
