For more information, contact Communications@thenationalcouncil.org or 202.684.7457

Washington, DC, (September 26, 2011)—The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare issued a magazine devoted entirely to ‘trauma-informed behavioral healthcare’ to direct national attention to trauma’s pervasiveness and impact on individuals’ recovery from mental illnesses and addictions. Trauma has profound implications for mental health and addictions care, and trauma-informed behavioral health services and systems are at the epicenter of healing for trauma victims.

“Trauma is a nearly universal experience of people with mental health and substance use disorders,” said Linda Rosenberg, president and CEO of the National Council. “Its impact is enormous. We must ask all people seeking help for mental health or addictions ‘what happened’ to them — not ‘what is wrong’ with them. Our success in helping to improve trauma victims’ health and the health of the nation depends on it.”

Violence — a common seed of trauma — is pervasive: an American woman is beaten every 15 seconds and raped every 6 minutes; a third of all people experience at least one childhood traumatic event (e.g., physical or sexual abuse, neglect, or family dysfunction), and war’s effect on returning soldiers and veterans can be disabling. However, trauma remains shrouded in secrecy and denial, often ignored, despite the violence’s profound physical and psychological consequences.

“When we experience trauma, our trust in the world, our relationships, and ourselves are often broken,” said Cheryl Sharp, MSW, special advisor on trauma-informed services at the National Council. “We heal in community and in relationship with others — and it is community behavioral healthcare that can serve as the link that so many of us need to begin healing.”

The National Council Magazine profiles trauma-informed care from a variety or perspectives, including the consumer/patient, provider, behavioral health center, court, military, and more. The magazine features leaders and experts, research, and programs that include:

• Breaking the Silence, an editorial by Kathryn Power, director, Center for Mental Health Services
• The Invisible Suffering of War by Jason Shiffman, chief medical officer, UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences
• Intentional and Informed Connections by peer support leaders Beth Filson and Shery Mead
• Promises to Keep by renowned trauma expert Ann Jennings
• When Disaster Disrupts by Linda Ligenza, trauma-informed care consultant
• Trauma-informed Care: Stories of Change by behavioral health providers across the nation and much more on trauma-informed care

The magazine also includes perspective on why trauma-informed care is critical as the nation attempts to create a healthcare system that address the whole person, including their mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing.

A full copy of National Council Magazine “Breaking the Silence: Trauma-informed Behavioral Healthcare” is available.

The National Council is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) association of 1,950 community healthcare organizations that provide treatment and rehabilitation for mental illnesses and addiction disorders to nearly 6 million adults, children and families in communities across the country. Learn more at www.TheNationalCouncil.org.