Everything is urgent right now. But it's really depressing to see how few think trauma informed care is among the urgencies we should consider right now. Trauma affects literally everyone in this moment & will persist long after. If we implement TIC, fewer people will suffer.

Most are new to the idea of trauma informed care. TIC is understanding & responding to the impact of trauma, focusing on physical, psychological, & emotional safety for providers and survivors (K. Hopper E et al. 2010). But TIC also affects the community, schools, and more.

There are lots of different types of trauma, all with unique dynamics including medical trauma, abuse, being the victim of a crime, trauma from natural disasters (one might include COVID-19 among those), generational trauma, trauma from incarceration, grief trauma, and more.

Right now, there are 3 ways trauma specifically effects us:
- past traumas that impede seeking/receiving health care
- presently developing traumas
- future trauma that survivors are facing and some we don't know yet.
TIC can address these all.

Past trauma (i.e. trauma from abuse or medical encounters - like being in an ICU or having a surgery go wrong) is often the focus on in TIC literature - including how to make people feel safe in seeking and receiving care. We need people to seek the care they need right now.

Presently developing trauma is an area where we can implement TIC now in medicine & communities to prevent suffering. People are seeing mental health suffer, newly encountering med trauma, or watching loved ones become sick or die while they can only look on. All need TIC.

Future trauma is somewhat unknown. But we know people who survive the virus may have their own specific truamas and we know that the world will have been through enormous change. We can protect each other via TIC both in health care and communities.

TIC isn't considered a priority when we don't have enough ventilators. But it is incredibly important now and in the long run to prevent traumas that don't have to be or lessen the impact of trauma. Needless suffering because we don't recognize the urgency of TIC is unacceptable.

I see and feel the pain of those who have not had the benefits of TIC and I want that to stop. By acknowledging trauma we can come together and support each other wholly. We can ensure people seek care they need and feel supported during this time and in the future.

I've been through a lot of trauma in my life and what I wouldn't give to have had trauma informed care to protect me. It's scary for me to think about seeking care right now given my past traumas. I'm developing my own new traumas. And I don't know what the future will hold.

Nothing around COVID-19 priorities (from getting PPE to ensuring people can pay rent to implementing TIC) has to be an either/or situation. People are smart & compassionate & can hold space for considering multiple aspects of how this pandemic affects us & what we can do.

More over, everything around COVID-19 is connected - from incarceration to food stamps to domestic violence to the economy to TIC. All of it is important and each affects another in indelible ways. Many are looking at addressing one aspect, but there's a bigger picture.

I'm doing what I can to spread the word about TIC but it's hard in this environment. I understand why - we are all overwhelmed with information & issues to address. But I ask you to spare a thought for TIC and how health care & communities might care for one another.

TIC is essential for all. Here are some resources to help folx get started:

What TIC is: https://wp.me/p1sgji-uW 
Tips for survivors & drs for appts: https://wp.me/p1sgji-v4 
About disclosing & care transitions: https://wp.me/p1sgji-vx 
Staff encounters: https://wp.me/p1sgji-vM 

I started a thread on some of the tweets and articles that show why we need trauma informed care. Unfortunately, I know I'll have to keep adding to as we see the pandemic continue. https://twitter.com/GilmerHealthLaw/status/1245783751096823808?s=20