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Prevention and public health approaches to trauma and traumatic stress: a rationale and a call to action

BACKGROUND: The field of trauma and traumatic stress is dominated by studies on treatments for those who experience adversity from traumatic experiences. While this is important, we should not neglect the opportunity to consider trauma in a public health perspective. Such a perspective will help to...

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Autores principales: Magruder, Kathryn M., Kassam-Adams, Nancy, Thoresen, Siri, Olff, Miranda
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Co-Action Publishing 2016
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4800286/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26996536
http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/ejpt.v7.29715
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author Magruder, Kathryn M.
Kassam-Adams, Nancy
Thoresen, Siri
Olff, Miranda
author_facet Magruder, Kathryn M.
Kassam-Adams, Nancy
Thoresen, Siri
Olff, Miranda
author_sort Magruder, Kathryn M.
collection PubMed
description BACKGROUND: The field of trauma and traumatic stress is dominated by studies on treatments for those who experience adversity from traumatic experiences. While this is important, we should not neglect the opportunity to consider trauma in a public health perspective. Such a perspective will help to develop prevention approaches as well as extend the reach of early interventions and treatments. The purpose of this paper is to provide an introduction to a public health approach to trauma and traumatic stress and identify key opportunities for trauma professionals and our professional societies (such as the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies [ISTSS] and the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies [ESTSS]) to increase our societal impact by adopting such an approach. METHOD: This paper reviews and summarizes key findings related to the public health impact of trauma. The special case of children is explored, and a case example of the Norwegian terrorist attacks in 2011 illustrates the potential for improving our response to community level traumatic events. We also discuss how professional organizations such as ESTSS and ISTSS, as well as individual trauma professionals, can and should play an important role in promoting a public health approach. RESULTS: Trauma is pervasive throughout the world and has negative impacts at the personal, family, community, and societal levels. A public health perspective may help to develop prevention approaches at all of these levels, as well as extend the reach of early interventions and treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Professional organizations such as ESTSS and ISTSS can and should play an important role in promoting a public health approach. They should promote the inclusion of trauma in the global public health agenda and include public health in their activities.
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spelling pubmed-48002862016-04-29 Prevention and public health approaches to trauma and traumatic stress: a rationale and a call to action Magruder, Kathryn M. Kassam-Adams, Nancy Thoresen, Siri Olff, Miranda Eur J Psychotraumatol Proceedings Paper BACKGROUND: The field of trauma and traumatic stress is dominated by studies on treatments for those who experience adversity from traumatic experiences. While this is important, we should not neglect the opportunity to consider trauma in a public health perspective. Such a perspective will help to develop prevention approaches as well as extend the reach of early interventions and treatments. The purpose of this paper is to provide an introduction to a public health approach to trauma and traumatic stress and identify key opportunities for trauma professionals and our professional societies (such as the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies [ISTSS] and the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies [ESTSS]) to increase our societal impact by adopting such an approach. METHOD: This paper reviews and summarizes key findings related to the public health impact of trauma. The special case of children is explored, and a case example of the Norwegian terrorist attacks in 2011 illustrates the potential for improving our response to community level traumatic events. We also discuss how professional organizations such as ESTSS and ISTSS, as well as individual trauma professionals, can and should play an important role in promoting a public health approach. RESULTS: Trauma is pervasive throughout the world and has negative impacts at the personal, family, community, and societal levels. A public health perspective may help to develop prevention approaches at all of these levels, as well as extend the reach of early interventions and treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Professional organizations such as ESTSS and ISTSS can and should play an important role in promoting a public health approach. They should promote the inclusion of trauma in the global public health agenda and include public health in their activities. Co-Action Publishing 2016-03-18 /pmc/articles/PMC4800286/ /pubmed/26996536 http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/ejpt.v7.29715 Text en © 2016 Kathryn M. Magruder et al. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, allowing third parties to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format, and to remix, transform, and build upon the material, for any purpose, even commercially, under the condition that appropriate credit is given, that a link to the license is provided, and that you indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
spellingShingle Proceedings Paper
Magruder, Kathryn M.
Kassam-Adams, Nancy
Thoresen, Siri
Olff, Miranda
Prevention and public health approaches to trauma and traumatic stress: a rationale and a call to action
title Prevention and public health approaches to trauma and traumatic stress: a rationale and a call to action
title_full Prevention and public health approaches to trauma and traumatic stress: a rationale and a call to action
title_fullStr Prevention and public health approaches to trauma and traumatic stress: a rationale and a call to action
title_full_unstemmed Prevention and public health approaches to trauma and traumatic stress: a rationale and a call to action
title_short Prevention and public health approaches to trauma and traumatic stress: a rationale and a call to action
title_sort prevention and public health approaches to trauma and traumatic stress: a rationale and a call to action
topic Proceedings Paper
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4800286/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26996536
http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/ejpt.v7.29715
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