When most people think of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), they think of returning war veterans. If they think of PTSD in kids at all, it is associated with children in war zones or kids who are victims of sexual or physical abuse. But new research shows that the crippling mental health effects of PTSD can also be caused by medical procedures, divorce, adoption, and natural disasters.
National Institute of Mental Health
The National Institute of Mental Health’s website provides a wealth of information about PTSD in kids. You could spend an afternoon at the site and not get through everything it offers. Many of the brochures and articles can be downloaded from the website or ordered by phone.
National Child Traumatic Stress Network Brochure
One of the most informative and readable publications is the brochure put out by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN). It can be downloaded at the website. Because finding it at the site takes quite a bit of time, you can also download it here:
If your child has endured medical trauma, you should download the brochure and visit the website for more information. While they don’t address medical trauma specifically, what you learn there could be a first step in restoring your child’s emotional and mental health.
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