A growing body of research shows that experiencing traumatic events increases an individual’s risk of long-term physical and behavioral health issues. As health care providers and policymakers begin to understand these connections, trauma-informed approaches to care are being adopted as a crucial aspect of high-quality health care in hopes of improving patient engagement and outcomes while lowering costs.

This fact sheet explores the causes of trauma, how it can impact health, and how to support a trauma-informed approach to care. See also related slides.