Intergenerational trauma

JUNE 2020 | ISSUE 4

THE HELP SHOW NEWSLETTER A Monthly Discussion of Mental Health Topics

JOIN US COFFEE & CONVERSATION: INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA Virtual Live Podcast June 26 at 6:30pm Central

In This Issue: Legact of Trauma - 2 Upcoming Podcast - 3 In Case You Missed It - 4

Intergenerational trauma, Join us for our upcoming Coffee & Conversation virtual live podcast Sometimes called transgenerational trauma or a “generational curse”, this is a relatively new yet widely accepted psychological theory that presents when a traumatic situation results in negative behaviors and thought patterns that are passed down from one generation to the next. Experiencing trauma impacts the way that we teach our children and what they will experience, and scientists indicate that trauma can even leave a chemical mark on a person's genes that can be passed down for generations to come.

The recent death of George Floyd has led to a flood of emotions, and the impacts of intergenerational trauma have manifested themselves worldwide. This issue of our monthly newsletter is dedicated to helping you understand intergenerational trauma and what we can do to help manage its impacts.

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The Legacy of Trauma It is difficult for many of us to imagine that we can experience negative impacts of events that we did not personally experience. However, trauma is often described as a deep emotional wound that continues to influence your life well after the event has ended. These experiences shape who we are, how we grow, and what we teach our children.

Starting in the 1950s, there has been a growing body of evidence regarding trauma in Holocaust survivors and their children - the “second generation” who were born after the height of this enormous tragedy in the Jewish community. This sparked a new understanding of the stress in the African American community and how slavery and institutional

How you can help

racism have influenced current racial tensions.

There are several actions you can take to manage

Why It Matters Now

associated with intergenerational trauma.

the negative and repeated emotions and behaviors

Today, there is significant conflict in our society

Acknowledge that we are all impacted by

regarding protests, statues, flags, and a variety of

what we learned from prior generations.

other symbols of our cultures and histories that

Listen to people from diverse backgrounds for

relate to the experiences of our ancestors. This

an understanding of their perspectives, not just

illustrates how the experiences of prior generations

your own.

can impact future generations.

Consider your own implicit bias. Most people

have some level of bias, even if they are not

Examples of intergenerational trauma includes

aware. Recognizing this can help you manage

African Americans who have experienced police

your bias.

brutality, veterans who experience PTSD, Native Americans who experienced genocide, and other groups whose experiences impact their engagement with mental health care today.

Avoid minimizing another person’s views

simply because they are inconsistent with your own.

Instill a sense of community and belonging

to help others feel more comfortable (such as when they need mental health support).

Get involved. Oftentimes, we have the power

to speak up on behalf of a person in distress.

Use your voice to help them be heard.

Join our upcoming virtual live podcast to learn

more about intergenerational trauma, how it relates to current racial tensions, and how you can become a part of the long-term solution.

Join our upcoming virtual live podcast Coffee & Conversation: Intergenerational Trauma Friday, June 26th at 6:30pm Central This virtual live podcast will address how trauma from prior generations are impacting our lives in the wake of the death of George Floyd.

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NiEtta Reynolds, MSW Founder of The Help Show

NiEtta will host our podcast to help us understand how intergenerational trauma affects us during our current social unrest. Her goal is to create opportunities for those in need of access to mental health resources and help them overcome challenges in order to lead healthy, productive lives. NiEtta is passionate about educating the community on mental health issues, so she uses her platform to engage people from all walks of life in spreading mental health awareness .

Kenneth Rogers, MD UT Southwestern Medical Center

Dr. Rogers, our podcast's co-host, has over 20 years of experience as a board-certified psychiatrist addressing PTSD and other trauma. His clinical research demonstrates the positive outcomes of intervention through communitybased mental health programs. He will help lead our discussion regarding the mental health issues that can result from intergenerational trauma, as well as ways to help manage its impacts.

Dr. Otis Anderson III Community Psychiatrist

Dr. Anderson is a founding member of Global Health Psychiatry, a group of psychiatrists who publish best-selling books regarding psychiatric needs in the community. He specializes in treating children, inmates, older adults, and others who represent the diverse needs of all generations. Dr. Anderson has also served on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as a fellow for the American Psychiatric Association and on the Black Psychiatrists of America's Board of Trustees.

In Case You Missed It Last month's podcast: Minorities, Mental Health, and Abuse In last month's podcast, we talked about minorities, mental health, and abuse, including how and why minorities have limited access to mental health care, how this impacts the prevalence of abuse, and what you can do to help. If you have questions about last month’s podcast, contact info@thehelpshow.org.

Archived Podcasts Visit our library at www.TheHelpShow.org/podcasts/ The Help Show hosts podcasts to address a wide variety of mental health topics and educate the community to how to access mental health resources.

Mental Health Resources Get help at www.TheHelpShow.org/podcast-resources/ In addition to the resources addressed on our podcasts, visit our website to find mental resources in the community at any time.

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Register for our next virtual live podcast Coffee & Conversation To learn more about intergenerational trauma, as well as how the Help Show benefits our community, REGISTER NOW for our upcoming virtual live podcast.