Library Services: Trauma-Informed Campus: Home

Quick Links

Trauma Defined

SAMHSA defines trauma as "A result of an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and physical, social, emotional or spiritual well-being."

Princples of a Trauma-Informed Campus

Physical, emotional and academic safety
Trustworthiness and transparency
Support and connection
Collaboration and mutuality
Empowerment and choice
Cultural, Historical and Gender-responsive
Resilience, growth, change

From Trauma-Informed Teaching and Learning

Food for thought

"A trauma sensitive school is one in which all students feel safe, welcomed, and supported and where addressing trauma’s impact on learning on a school-wide basis is at the center of its educational mission. An ongoing-inquiry-based process allows for the necessary teamwork, coordination, creativity, and sharing of responsibility for all students." Cole, Eisner, Greggory & Ristuccia (2013)

Explore

The Body Keeps the Score: : Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk
ISBN: 9780143127741
Publication Date: 2015-09-08
Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, one of the world's foremost experts on trauma, has spent over three decades working with survivors. In The Body Keeps the Score, he uses recent scientific advances to show how trauma literally reshapes both body and brain, compromising sufferers' capacities for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust. He explores innovative treatments--from neurofeedback and meditation to sports, drama, and yoga--that offer new paths to recovery by activating the brain's natural neuroplasticity. Based on Dr. van der Kolk's own research and that of other leading specialists, The Body Keeps the Score exposes the tremendous power of our relationships both to hurt and to heal--and offers new hope for reclaiming lives.
Trauma Is Really Strange by Steve Haines; Sophie Standing (Artist)
Call Number: WM 172.5 H256 2016
ISBN: 9781848192935
Publication Date: 2015-12-21
What is trauma? How does it change the way our brains work? And how can we overcome it? When something traumatic happens to us, we dissociate and our bodies shut down their normal processes. This unique comic explains the strange nature of trauma and how it confuses the brain and affects the body. With wonderful artwork, cat and mouse metaphors, essential scientific facts, and a healthy dose of wit, the narrator reveals how trauma resolution involves changing the body's physiology. This book also describes techniques that can achieve this, including Trauma Releasing Exercises that allow the body to shake away tension, safely releasing the deep muscular patterns of stress and trauma.

Overcoming Adverse Childhood Experiences
Brief primer on adverse childhood experiences and their effects, from the Mayo Clinic
Historical Trauma and Cultural Healing
What is historical trauma? How do people and communities experience it? And how can reconnecting to cultural practices help families and communities heal? A guide from University of Minnesota Extension.

Helping College Students in Distress by Monica Galloway Burke (Editor); Karl Laves (Editor); Jill Duba Sauerheber (Editor); Aaron W. Hughey (Editor)
ISBN: 9780367815738
Publication Date: 2020-08-09
This important resource draws from counseling and higher education professionals' insights to unpack real-life dilemmas of students in distress both inside and outside the classroom, while providing readers with essential tools and recommendations for assisting distressed students.
Mindful Strategies for Helping College Students Manage Stress by Lacretia Dye; Monica Galloway Burke; Cynthia Palmer Mason
ISBN: 9781000362169
Publication Date: 2021-03-24
This practical resource offers an introduction to the why, what, and how of supporting college students through mindfulness and stress-releasing strategies. Higher education professionals are in a unique position to support, coach, and teach strategies with students to manage anxiety and emotional distress and improve well-being. Drawing on experience from the disciplines of Mental Health, Counseling, and Student Affairs, the authors provide evidence-based practices and tangible techniques supported by the latest brain-based research and neuroscience. Full of tools that college students can use daily to assist with their relaxation, meditation, focus, and stress management, this book helps higher education professionals who are not trained mental health practitioners to effectively and confidently incorporate activities to support the whole student.

A "Trauma-Informed" Return to Campus: How One University is Creating Space for People to Process the Pandemic Damage
"The lives of students have changed forever." Chronicle of Higher Education article about the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee's plans for a trauma-informed return-to-campus plan.
Capacity to Connect: Supporting Students' Mental Health and Wellness
This adaptable training resource covers foundational mental health and wellness knowledge for post-secondary faculty and staff and provides ways to support students in distress. It can be used for two-hour online or in-person training or for self-study. Handouts include a wellness wheel self-assessment tool and information on supporting students in distress. This is an open educational resource (OER) and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Unless otherwise indicated, you may retain, reuse, revise, remix, and redistribute this resource without permission but with acknowledgement of the original resource.
Mental Health First Aid
From the National Council for Mental Well Being, Mental Health First Aid is a skills-based course that teaches you how to help someone who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge. The training helps you identify, understand and respond to signs of addictions and mental illnesses. Find a Mental Health First Aid course near you.
Trauma-Informed Practices for Postsecondary Education: A Guide
By Shannon Davidson, Ph.D., Education Northwest. This guide is intended to raise awareness of trauma in postsecondary education institutions, help educators understand how trauma affects learning and development, and provide practical advice for how to work effectively with college students who have been exposed to trauma . It can be used by classroom educators, as well as administrative and student services professionals, all of whom play a critical role in creating supportive learning environments.
Wellness Wheel and Assessment
The Wellness Wheel describes the integration of 7 important dimensions of wellness: emotional, environmental, intellectual, occupational, physical, social and spiritual. This version from Princeton University provides additional resources for each dimension for real-world application with an emphasis on college under "Learn More."

Chronicle of Higher Ed's Explainer on Trauma-Informed Teaching
Instructor Strategies to Alleviate Stress and Anxiety among College and University STEM Students
In this article, the authors highlight ways in which instructors can learn about and prepare to act to alleviate STEM students' stress and anxiety in college. They discuss how to better connect with students and build an inclusive, equitable, and empowering classroom environment. When coupled with strategies to change student evaluation and assessment, these approaches may collectively reduce student stress and anxiety, as well as improve student performance. They then discuss the roles that instructors may play in empowering students with skills that improve their time management, studying, and approach toward learning, with an eye toward ensuring their success across all their academic endeavors.
Leveraging the Neuroscience of Now: Seven Recommendations for Helping Students Thrive in Times of Trauma,
Mays Imad explores seven ways professors can help students thrive in class in times of trauma.
Social Justice in the Classroom
A collection of resources selected by the Center for Student Success on making the classroom space a safe one. Topics include inclusive design and handling microagressions and racism in the classroom.
Trauma-Informed Teaching and Learning
A blog dedicated to bringing a trauma-informed approach to higher education

ACPHS Office of Counseling and Wellness
Brochure with the office contacts and FAQs.
Wellness Wheel and Assessment
The Wellness Wheel describes the integration of 7 important dimensions of wellness: emotional, environmental, intellectual, occupational, physical, social and spiritual. This version from Princeton University provides additional resources for each dimension for real-world application with an emphasis on college under "Learn More."
Self-Care Strategies for College Students
From ThoughtCo, 9 practical self-care strategies that students practice routinely.
Headspace
A special collection of meditation, sleep, and movement exercises are here to support you through stressful and challenging times. Free for New York residents.
ULifeline: Mental health resources for college students
ULifeline provides resources specific to college students, and we have our own ACPHS platform on that site. Please take a look and take advantage of the mental health resources available to you. Don’t hesitate to reach out.

Self-Care for College Students by Julia Dellitt
Call Number: LB 2343.3 D444 2019
ISBN: 9781507211151
Publication Date: 2019-07-30
Manageable self-care tips that are easy for students to incorporate into their busy college lifestyle. Self-Care for College Students offers suggestions that help students tackle every aspect of taking care of themselves from the simplest tasks to rewarding activities that might require more planning. Whether it is making sure to eat a healthy meal to utilizing the school's support services, there is advice for any situation. This books offers realistic and practical self-care activities that students can try right away to maximize their college experience.
It's OK That You're Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture that Doesn't Understand by Megan Devine; Mark Nepo (Foreword by)
Call Number: BF 575 D484 2017
ISBN: 9781622039074
Publication Date: 2017-10-01
Megan Devine offers a profound new approach to both the experience of grief and the way we try to help others who have endured tragedy. She debunks the culturally prescribed goal of returning to a normal, "happy" life, replacing it with a far healthier middle path, one that invites us to build a life alongside grief rather than seeking to overcome it. Through stories, research, life tips, and creative and mindfulness-based practices, she offers a unique guide through an experience we all must face--in our personal lives, in the lives of those we love, and in the wider world.

Wellness Wheel and Assessment
The Wellness Wheel describes the integration of 7 important dimensions of wellness: emotional, environmental, intellectual, occupational, physical, social and spiritual. This version from Princeton University provides additional resources for each dimension for real-world application with an emphasis on college under "Learn More."
Coronavirus Anxiety Workbook: A Tool to Help You Build Resilience During Difficult Times
A workbook of practical planning, strategies and tips to help you manage stress and build resilience during the pandemic. Published by The Wellness Society.
Headspace
A special collection of meditation, sleep, and movement exercises are here to support you through stressful and challenging times. Free for New York residents.
Higher Ed Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Explore your benefit resources from EAP.

It's OK That You're Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture that Doesn't Understand by Megan Devine; Mark Nepo (Foreword by)
Call Number: BF 575 D484 2017
ISBN: 9781622039074
Publication Date: 2017-10-01
Megan Devine offers a profound new approach to both the experience of grief and the way we try to help others who have endured tragedy. She debunks the culturally prescribed goal of returning to a normal, "happy" life, replacing it with a far healthier middle path, one that invites us to build a life alongside grief rather than seeking to overcome it. Through stories, research, life tips, and creative and mindfulness-based practices, she offers a unique guide through an experience we all must face--in our personal lives, in the lives of those we love, and in the wider world.

Trauma-Informed Campus: Home

Home

Welcome

Would you like to recommend a resource? Join in the conversation?

Let us know!

Quick Links

Trauma Defined

Princples of a Trauma-Informed Campus

Food for thought

Explore