ARTICLE
Helping Children of Color Heal from Collective Trauma
At the individual level, the psychological effects of trauma can be acute or long term, depending on a person’s experience and access to care. But at the community level, a complex and collective experience of trauma can lead to irreparable harm that lasts for generations. For many people of color, this exposure to collective trauma is not new; in fact, people of color are more likely than their white counterparts to be predisposed to trauma and less likely to access treatment. Children of color are particularly vulnerable because they’re still in early stages of psychological and moral development. They need support and attention when they’re a witness to violence and trauma—especially when it’s happening to people who look like them.