Local mental health authority- Bexar County: https://chcsbc.org/

CDC resources for mental health: https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/tools-resources/index.htm

SAMHSA: https://www.samhsa.gov/

NAMI: https://www.nami.org/home 

 

National Domestic Violence Hotline: Text- LOVEIS to 22522, call 1-800-799-7233, or visit thehotline.org 

Resource center: https://ncsacw.samhsa.gov/resources/trauma/trauma-resource-center-websites.aspx

Local support group: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/groups/trauma-and-ptsd/tx/san-antonio 

 

Crisis Text Line: Text MHA to 741741

Support & Hotlines: https://covid19.sanantonio.gov/Assistance/Residents/Counseling-Wellness-Resources 

Suicide screening tool: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/research/research-conducted-at-nimh/asq-toolkit-materials/index.shtml

 

IPS Works: https://ipsworks.org/

San Antonio community resource guide: http://www.fitcitysa.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Community-Resource-Guide_consolidated.pdf 

San Antonio’s 311: https://311.sanantonio.gov/services  

A great resource for locating local support groups is NAMI. Support groups are a great place to talk with others in a safe environment. As mentioned earlier, support groups can allow people to talk about their struggles without judgment. NAMI is very interactive with each community. Here in San Antonio you will always catch them at a career or resource fair. One of their missions is to educate and advocate for individuals diagnosed with a mental illness. In addition, they offer educational presentations for free, which is super awesome. It is called Ending the Silence. They’re a great resource to utilize. 

Within the scope of my practice, I would assess the situation to figure out what services/resources are needed. Next, I would direct them to the appropriate channels, whether it be a mental health clinic, community resources, or academic assistance. In addition to connecting them to the appropriate service, I would follow up on how the resource was able to assist them to ensure their needs are met. If not, I would suggest a new referral. 

This was the first time I was exposed to the ACE studies. After reviewing the information, I believe it is a good representation of the population. As a clinical scale assessment, it provides insight on possible mental and health outcomes, such as opportunities, risky behaviors, chronic diseases, etc. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). It is interesting to see how much of an impact an ACE can have. I find it to be an informative tool for professionals that work closely with children. 

 

According to Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse (2015) three types of trauma are burnout, acute trauma, and secondary trauma. 

Burnout is very common in the workplace and school environment. It can be caused my mental, physical, or motivational exhaustion. I personally experience this in my current role from time to time. To remedy this, I will usually take a day off to allow my body to rest and my mind to gain clarity. With this specific type of trauma, self-care is extremely important since burnout can occur to anyone.

Acute trauma can occur from a variety of experiences. This occurs as a result of a single event that lasts for a short period of time. An example of an acute trauma would be a car accident. In 2019 I was involved in an accident that caused me to spin out across 4 lanes on the highway onto the side of the road. It took me a while to process the experience. A month after the accident, I bought a vehicle that included many safety features. This allowed me to feel comfortable enough to go behind the wheel again. However, even after being in a new vehicle with all the bells and whistles, the anxiety was still present. I have worked through my emotions by utilizing coping skills, such as deep breathing, that allows me to continue driving when anxiety hits me on the road. My job prior to the COVID-19 pandemic was as a field care manager. The exposure was beneficial to me processing this experience.

Secondary trauma occurs as a result of indirectly experiencing a traumatic event that impacts you. An example of this would be the recent 100+ car pileup that occurred earlier this week in Fortworth. Watching the videos of this incident induced many feelings of sadness and fear. Due to the nature of this accident, it was relatable to many people since it is an incident that can occur to anyone at any time. Personally, I have not gone on any highways since viewing the accident in fear of a similar outcome. I am not accustomed to this inclement weather.

 

Children are more susceptible to trauma since they do not understand many concepts, for example, death. Therefore, not knowing how to process their emotions and grief. Another reason they may be susceptible is that they are unaware of what is considered a traumatizing experience until they are told so. Their homelife may involve neglect, but they would not know until they are exposed to “normal” lifestyles. Kids endure what is given to them since they do not know any better. 

According to Truitt (2020) Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Group therapy, and Psychotherapy are some strategies that can help individuals process their trauma. CBT attempts to replace negative thoughts with positive thinking. It attempts to change a person’s thought process. Group therapy allows a person to confide with others who share similar experiences. Psychotherapy allows the individual to talk through their experiences to begin the healing process. 

I do think that all health professionals should be mandated to have some knowledge regarding trauma. A health professional should be able to identify the signs that an individual has experienced trauma. Once the trauma has been identified the health professional will be able to accurately refer the individual to the appropriate resources. In addition to referrals, I believe that the health professional should be aware of how to minimize triggers for the sake of the individual. 

I believe it is important to recognize the signs of trauma and grief, as this may be a barrier to the individual’s road to recovery. In my current role, many of my clients have disclosed their trauma. It allows me to better assist them. Knowing their triggers allows me to create a safe space that promotes their personal growth. I think in my future role it will be similar. As a high school career advisor, I believe that understanding the student’s trauma and grief will give me insight into who they are and how I can help them. Many times, people need someone to talk to. I hope that I can create an environment that encourages a safe space for students to confide with me in a judgement free zone. Being well informed will help shape the way I interact with future students/clients. Trauma informed care will be essential to perform my duties correctly. 

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, April 13). About the CDC-Kaiser ACE Study. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/about.html

Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse. (2015, January 16). TRAUMA CATEGORIES: THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRAUMA. https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/odmhsas/documents/a0001/hh-oksoc-trauma-categories-types-of-trauma.pdf

Truitt, K. (2020, May 10). Types of Trauma Therapy. Trauma Counseling Center of Los Angeles. https://traumacounseling.com/trauma-therapy-blog/types-of-trauma-therapy/