Orange County Student Mental Health

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A Guide for Youth Understanding Trauma

Source: Youth MOVE National

Resource Type: Documents and Print Media

Audience(s): Students

When youth witness or experience a horrible event, they often do not have words to help make sense of what is happening and do not realize the potential for long lasting effects. It can be challenging to ask for help. As a result, youth often work to make sense of it alone. Managing these challenging emotions and stressful events by themselves can often lead to additional struggles such as unhealthy habits like smoking or drinking, hanging out with the wrong group of friends, acting out or internalizing their feelings and isolating themselves as a way to be safe. This guide is designed to help youth make a connection between stressful events and the potential lasting impacts. Understanding trauma and having a framework to talk about past experiences can help in processing and asking for help. This understanding supports healing.