Understanding Community Violence and Trauma
In some communities, nearly 90% of people experience trauma. Here’s how to effectively address the signs of trauma from community violence.
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Series Overview
The Risks & Effects of Unaddressed Trauma & Uninformed Care 9 Min
In our first session, Dr. Jameca breaks down the misconceptions about communities facing violence and trauma. She walks through how unconscious bias may play a role in these misconceptions. She also explains the mental health outcomes that may result when trauma goes unaddressed, or when a trauma survivor received uninformed care.
Understanding Trauma Exposure in the Context of Community Violence 7 Min
In this session, Dr. Jameca shares foundational knowledge on community violence-based trauma, including childhood and adulthood sexual assault, domestic violence, and workplace discrimination. She also walks through what post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms look like in the context of community violence.
How to Care for People Exposed to Community Violence & Trauma 11 Min
Dr. Jameca walks through the steps to take to better care for a survivor of trauma from community-based violence. This includes how to get educated on the history of the community, how to gain the trust of the community, and how to build relationships with community leaders. Dr. Jameca shares personal stories of how she does so with her own patients.
How to Correctly Address the Signs of Trauma from Community Violence 10 Min
According to Dr. Jameca, the mental health issue that brings patients into her office is rarely the trauma itself. So in this session, Dr. Jameca pulls back the curtain on her own process for identifying the trauma and treating the survivor. She walks through how she starts the conversation, the questions she asks, and what progress looks like.
Treatment Options & Concrete Strategies to Maintain Treatment Progress 13 Min
Dr. Jameca does a deep-dive on the most effective medication and therapy options for community-based trauma, and how to maintain progress in treatment. She also explains how and when crisis counseling can be used. She also breaks down what to do if a trauma survivor wants to be left alone.
How to Build Short- and Long-Term Resilience 12 Min
In our final session, Dr. Jameca walks through what resilience looks like, tangible strategies to practice and build resilience, and how this resilience can improve the short- and long-term mental health outcomes. She also explains the role support plays in building resilience and promoting recovery.
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About the Series
Urban populations in the U.S. face much higher rates of trauma exposure than the rest of the country; in fact, nearly 90 percent of people living in inner-city communities face at least one significant trauma in their lifetime.
Since trauma exposure in these communities is so widespread—and even normalized—it’s very difficult for first responders, health workers, and even survivors themselves to recognize the signs of a mental health issue from trauma.
Dr. Jameca Woody Cooper has been serving urban populations in the St. Louis area for over 15 years. In this series, she sheds light on the subtle signs of mental health issues from community-based trauma. She also shares actionable ways to help those who have suffered trauma.
Treating mental health comes down to addressing the root of trauma and understanding the big picture. This series provides tools needed to understand trauma, and better navigate communities exposed to traumatic events.
Who is this series for?
Survivors, supporters, and healthcare workers will gain a new perspective on trauma in the context of community-based violence—and how to address and treat mental health issues that result from this specific type of widespread trauma.
In this series, you’ll discover:
- An inside look at Dr. Jameca’s own process for treating and counseling survivors of trauma from community-based violence
- The mental health risks and effects of unaddressed trauma
- How unconscious bias may play a role in uninformed care of trauma survivors—and how to spot it
- How to get connected to community resources in order to address and treat trauma and the resulting mental health impacts
- What to do if a trauma survivor refuses help in a crisis—and when “leaving them alone” is unsafe
- How to use “emotional emancipation circles” to treat the mental health impacts of trauma
“If you can understand the experiences of a population of people you help, that’s a big deal…[but] if you haven’t been there, be honest...the empathy you can convey as not having experienced it is great. You don’t have to have lived that experience to understand how hard it might be for someone who has.”
Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Ph.D., M.A.
Start Watching This Series Now!
You can get free access to all 6 segments of this video series when you become a MedCircle Member. You’ll also get access to every video series from the MedCircle doctors.
