The History And Purpose Of National Trauma Awareness Month For Mental Health

Each May, National Trauma Awareness Month is observed. It’s a time dedicated to raising awareness for the potential impacts of trauma on individuals and communities, sharing resources for recovery, and promoting programs for traumatic injury prevention. These efforts may help individuals receive the support and resources they need to find healing. Read on for a brief history of National Trauma Awareness Month and how you can observe and support it this May.

The history of National Trauma Awareness Month

Established in 1988 by the American Trauma Society, National Trauma Awareness Month was created to educate healthcare professionals and the public about trauma prevention and its effects and to celebrate survivors. This organization has a primary focus on prevention efforts for traumatic physical injuries—such as those sustained due to car accidents, work accidents, or interpersonal violence—which can also have emotional impacts. Since its inception, this observance has become an opportunity for trauma centers, hospitals, advocates, and health care professionals to raise awareness for and focus on trauma prevention efforts and treatment.

Each year, National Trauma Awareness Month focuses on a different theme, usually one tied to a cause of traumatic injuries that there’s been a documented rise in. Some past themes include teen driving, sports injuries/concussions, and school violence. Last year’s committee chose the theme “Injury Prevention Is Everyone's Business,” which involved a focus on preventing accidents and traumatic injuries at home, on the road, at work, and in other areas of people’s lives in modern society. The 2025 theme has not yet been announced as of this writing.

The need for trauma education and prevention

According to current research, physical trauma is the leading cause of death worldwide, with up to 50 million patients making trauma-related visits to the ER per year in the United States alone. Trauma-related injuries can lead to long-term health complications both mentally and physically. National Trauma Awareness Month aims to promote education, treatment, and safety protocols to reduce the risk of sustaining such injuries or to reduce the severity of their impact.

Raising awareness and understanding the impact of trauma

Anyone can be affected by trauma, and trauma affects everyone differently. Awareness and early intervention can be beneficial for recovery as well as the prevention of trauma-related symptoms. When someone has a traumatic experience, be it from a life-threatening accident or an emotional event, the repercussions can affect their well-being for an extended period of time. That’s why it can be important to raise awareness for trauma and build effective prevention programs.

Why National Trauma Awareness Month is important for the health of communities

An improvement in trauma education, intervention strategies, and awareness may benefit communities impacted by trauma in the following ways:

• Increased compassion: Trauma awareness can help reduce stigma and foster a more compassionate and responsive healthcare system.
• Improved relationships: By recognizing how trauma can impact another person's behavior, communities can better understand each other and communicate more effectively.
• Enhanced support: Awareness and advocacy may lead to the development of more trauma-focused healthcare centers and community programs.

Understanding trauma-related injuries

Trauma can look different in each individual, and it may involve severe physical injuries and/or psychological distress. Some injuries and effects are an immediate healthcare risk and need imminent treatment, while others develop over a period of time.

Types of trauma-related injuries

Trauma can be induced by various events. Below are some of the more common types of trauma-related injuries:

• Head and brain injuries like a concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI), which can cause both cognitive and mental symptoms such as agitation, fatigue, memory loss, and depressed mood
• Spinal cord injuries, which can lead to mobility issues and chronic pain
• Fractures or broken bones, which sometimes require surgical procedures and prolonged periods of rehabilitation
• Burn injuries, which may lead to scarring and nerve damage

In addition to affecting your body, physical injuries can impact your mental and emotional health. For example, it’s not uncommon for those who have experienced a serious accident or act of violence to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Those with PTSD may also develop co-occurring conditions such as a substance use disorder, anxiety disorder, or depressive disorder.

What traumatic injury recovery may involve

Recognizing the impact of trauma is often the first step toward seeking care. The form trauma recovery takes depends on the type of trauma experienced and the injuries sustained, but it often involves a combination of physical rehabilitation, mental health support, and support from loved ones. 

During rehabilitation sessions, individuals may practice memory exercises to enhance cognitive function or receive manual massages to relieve chronic pain. Mental health support can involve support groups or one-on-one sessions with a therapist. Social support can involve practical care, like family members making meals for a person or helping them get to doctor’s appointments, or emotional care like a listening ear.

Injury and trauma prevention programs 

With the proper safety precautions and the awareness raised during National Trauma Awareness Month, certain traumatic injuries may be preventable. Some effective injury prevention strategies that have been promoted during National Trauma Awareness Month include the encouragement of seatbelt and helmet use, the education of sports coaches and athletes on concussions, the implementation of work safety programs, and the implementation of programs that advocate for safe driving practices. 

To have a greater impact on the community, campaigns and programs often focus on high-risk activities and environments such as driving or sports. Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of trauma, so campaigns that educate individuals on safe driving aim to prevent this kind of trauma before it happens. Trauma awareness campaigns help people identify risk behaviors and potential hazards that could lead to injury.

How to get involved in National Trauma Awareness Month

There are various ways you can get involved in National Trauma Awareness Month and help raise awareness, support trauma survivors, and work to improve injury recovery and prevention outcomes. From educational initiatives to community engagement efforts, individuals, communities, and healthcare professionals can all do their part to raise awareness for trauma.

Community events to raise awareness for trauma

Throughout the month of May, many community events take place to raise awareness for trauma. Examples of these events include educational workshops, trauma awareness walks or runs, art installations, meet-and-greets, and movie screenings and discussions. Whether individuals want to plan, support, or attend events to raise awareness, educate others through creative pieces of art, or learn about trauma and recovery from a film, there are many forms of engagement available.

Ways individuals can raise awareness

There are various ways to get involved with existing campaigns or spread awareness on your own during National Trauma Awareness Month. Some meaningful ways to get involved include:

• Share trauma awareness materials. You can help educate others through social media, forms of art, or shared stories.
• Volunteer with organizations. You might volunteer with one of many organizations that support trauma survivors in recovery and prevention.
• Donate to trauma centers. Funding can help trauma centers assist individuals who need medical care and mental health support. 
• Advocate for public safety policies. You might also support policies that aim to prevent trauma, such as seatbelt laws or programs with violence prevention professionals.

Online support for trauma

People who have experienced or witnessed trauma typically benefit from the support of a mental health professional. Whether they’re experiencing symptoms of PTSD or are looking for guidance in processing their emotions, a therapist can provide compassionate care. 

However, not everyone can easily travel to and from in-person appointments—particularly those recovering from a serious injury. Online therapy can be a more convenient format in such cases. It can also reduce other barriers to care, like availability of healthcare professionals in one’s area, stigma, time constraints, and cost. Platforms like BetterHelp match you with a licensed mental health professional from a huge network. You can then meet with them virtually from anywhere you have an internet connection.

How effective is online mental health support?

For people experiencing post-traumatic symptoms and in need of mental health support, online therapy can often be an effective tool for healing and growth. Research suggests that internet-based treatment can be as effective as in-person treatment for symptoms of PTSD in many cases.