Self-Advocacy by Anthony

What is Trauma? Where Can I find Help?

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Trauma:

Physical trauma, an often serious and body-altering physical injury, such as the removal of a limb
- Blunt trauma, a type of physical trauma caused by impact or other force applied from or with a blunt object
- Penetrating trauma, a type of physical trauma in which the skin or tissues are pierced by an object
Psychological trauma, an emotional or psychological injury, usually resulting from an extremely stressful or life-threatening situation
Post-cult trauma, the intense emotional problems that some members of cults and new religious movements experience upon disaffection and disaffiliation

Links

The following links are provided for information and education purposes only. NCTIC does not expressly endorse any of the listed resources.

Government Agencies and Programs
Organizations with a Trauma Focus
Research Publications and Resources Addressing Trauma

Government Agencies and Programs

Center for Mental Health Services
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Center for Mental Health Services, National GAINS Center
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Co-Occurring Center for Excellence
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Disaster Technical Assistance Center
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Health Resources and Services Administration
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

National Consumer Supporter Technical Assistance Center
Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

National Women’s Health Information Center
Office on Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Office for Victims of Crime
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs

Office on Violence Against Women
U.S. Department of Justice

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Organizations with a Trauma Focus

Addiction and Trauma Recovery Integration Model (ATRIUM)

Anna Institute (f/k/a the Anna Foundation)

Community Connections

National Center on Family Homelessness

National Organization of State Mental Health Program Directors

Parents of Murdered Children

Sanctuary Leadership Development Institute

Seeking Safety

Sidran Institute

State Public Systems Coalition on Trauma (listserv managed by the Anna Institute)

Stop the Silence

Trauma Center at Justice Resource Institute

University of Connecticut’s Research and Development Corporation - Trauma Affect Regulation: Guide for Education and Therapy (TARGET)

Witness Justice

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Research Publications and Resources Addressing Trauma

Adverse Childhood Experiences

American Journal of Psychiatry

Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research

Journal of Community Psychology

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

Journal of the American Medical Association

Journal of Traumatic Stress

Psychiatric Services

The National Mental Health Information Center

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National Hotlines, Referral Resources, and Support Services

NCTIC does not provide direct assistance for consumers and survivors.
The following hotlines and referral resources are provided for informational
purposes only. NCTIC does not expressly endorse any of the listed resources.

Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline
800-4-A-CHILD (800-422-4453)
The mission of the Childhelp hotline is to provide help or answer questions
about child abuse or neglect 24 hours a day.

FEMA Disaster Aid Hotline
800-621-FEMA
This hotline is available to provide direct and financial assistance to
individuals, families, and businesses in an area whose property has been
damaged or destroyed by disaster.

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
800-THE-LOST (800-843-5678)
The mission of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is to
help prevent child abduction and sexual exploitation; provide assistance with
finding missing children; and assist victims of child abduction and sexual
exploitation, their families, and the professionals who serve them 24 hours
a day.

National Center for Victims of Crime
800-FYI-CALL (800-394-2255)
The National Center for Victims of Crime provides information, education,
and referrals to local resources across the country. The hotline is available
Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm and is offered in numerous
languages.

National Domestic Violence Hotline
800-799-SAFE (800-799-7233) and 800-787-3224 (TDD)
The mission of the National Domestic Violence Hotline is to provide crisis
intervention, safety planning, information, and referrals for individuals
experiencing domestic violence. The hotline is available 24 hours a day
and assistance is offered in numerous languages.

Mental Health America (f/k/a National Mental Health Association)
800-969-6MHA (6642)
The mission of MHA is to promote mental wellness for the health and
well-being of the nation. MHA offers information and resources on numerous
mental health topics.

National Organization for Victim Assistance
800-TRY-NOVA (800-879-6682)
NOVA’s mission is to promote rights and services for victims of crime and
crisis. The hotline provides information and referrals and is available 24
hours a day.

National Resource and Training Center on Homelessness and Mental Illness
617-467-6014
The Center is focused on the effective organization and delivery of services
for people who are homeless and who have serious mental illnesses by
providing technical assistance and training.

National Sexual Assault Hotline
800-656-HOPE (800-656-4673)
This hotline is operated by the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network
(RAINN), which also carries out programs to help prevent sexual assault,
assist victims, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
800-273-TALK (800-273-8255)
This suicide prevention service is available to anyone in suicidal crisis and
is available 24/7.

National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline
866-331-9474 and 866-331-8453 (TTY)
This hotline was created to help teens ages 13-18 that experience dating
abuse and it is available 24/7.

OVC Victim and Family Assistance Call Center
800-331-0075
The U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime offers links to
state victim assistance and compensation programs that are VOCA funded.
The OVC Victim and Family Assistance Call Center is available to victims
and family members of violence and terrorism and provides information and
assistance, including referrals for housing, financial assistance, and mental
health counseling.

Research and Training Center on Family Support and Children's Mental Health
800-628-1696
The Center is dedicated to promoting effective community-based, culturally
competent, family-centered services for families and their children who are
or may be affected by mental, emotional, or behavioral disorders.

SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
800-729-6686
The Clearinghouse is a one-stop resource for information about substance
abuse prevention and addiction treatment.

SAMHSA’s Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator
800-662-HELP (4357); 800-487-4889 (TDD); 877-767-8432 (Espanol)
A searchable directory of drug and alcohol treatment programs that shows
the location of facilities around the country that treat alcoholism, alcohol
abuse, and drug abuse problems.

Witness Justice
800-4WJ-HELP (800-495-4357)
Witness Justice is a national grassroots organization that provides assistance,
support, and advocacy for survivors of violence and trauma.

Resources:

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The following list is a basic guide to organizations that can help protect your rights. For more information on any of these issues and other aspects of mental illness, call SAMHSA's National Mental Health Information Center (NMHIC).

SAMHSA's National Mental Health Information Center
P.O. Box 42557
Washington, DC 20015
Telephone: 800-789-2647
Fax: 240-747-5470
(TDD): 866-889-2647
E-mail: nmhic-info@samhsa.hhs.gov
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov

American Bar Association
Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law
740 15th Street NW, 9th Floor
Washington, DC 20005
Telephone: 202-662-1570
Fax: 202-662-1032
E-mail: cmpdl@abanet.org
www.abanet.org/disability

American Civil Liberties Union
of the National Capital Area
1400 20th Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Telephone: 202-457-0800
www.aclu.org

Disability Rights Section
Civil Rights Division
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20530
Telephone: 800-514-0301
Fax: 202-307-1198
(TDD): 800-514-0383
www.usdoj.gov/crt/drssec.htm

Judge Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
1101 15th Street NW, Suite 1212
Washington, DC 20005-5002
Telephone: 202-467-5730
Fax: 202-223-0409
www.bazelon.org

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
Colonial Place Three
2107 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201-3042
Telephone: 800-950-6264
Fax: 703-524-9094
www.nami.org

National Disability Rights Network
900 2nd Street NE, Suite 211
Washington, DC 20002
Telephone: 202-408-9514
Fax: 202-408-9520
(TDD): 202-408-9521
http://www.ndrn.org/

National Empowerment Center
599 Canal Street
Lawrence, MA 01840
Telephone: 800-769-3728
Fax: 978-681-6426
www.power2u.org

National Mental Health Association
2001 N. Beauregard Street - 12th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22311
Telephone: 800-969-NMHA (6642)
Fax: 703-684-5968
www.nmha.org

National Mental Health Consumer's Self-Help Clearinghouse
1211 Chestnut Street, Suite 1207
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Telephone: 800-553-4539
Fax: 215-636-6312
E-mail: info@mhselfhelp.org
www.mhselfhelp.org

National Rehabilitation Information Center
4200 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 202
Lanham, MD 20706
Telephone: 800-346-2742 or 301-459-5900
E-mail: naricinfo@heitechservices.com
www.naric.com

Do I have a right to privacy?

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Mental health providers agree to keep your meetings and what you discuss confidential. This means that what you say-as well as your diagnosis and treatment-cannot be disclosed to anyone, including family members, without your written consent.

What about managed care rights?

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Many organizations have developed bills of rights for people with severe mental illnesses who are treated in a managed care setting. The Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) has developed principles for managed care treatment. CMHS recommends that providers, managed care firms, and consumers consider these principles in their decision-making process. Most managed care firms have a process for grievances and appeals. Participants may appeal a treatment decision, question payment decisions, or file complaints about providers and facilities.

Can I refuse treatment?

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People generally have the right to consent to or refuse treatment. However, under certain conditions-such as when a person is considered a danger to self or others-he or she may be required to seek or receive treatment. This can include involuntary civil commitment, which can be for either outpatient or inpatient treatment, as well as forced medication. Laws about commitment vary by State. If you have questions about the commitment process in your State, contact your State P&A program or consumer or family organization.

What is 'informed consent'?

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Informed consent refers to when a patient agrees to undergo or participate in a medical or surgical procedure, treatment, or study after learning what is involved. Informed consent requires that a person know and fully understand the risks and benefits of a certain treatment or procedure.

What is an advance directive?

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If you frequently seek and use mental health services, you may want to establish an advance directive. There are two general types of advance directives: instructional, such as living wills, and proxy, such as durable power of attorney. Each directive is a legal document that lets you describe what services you want to receive if an illness renders you unable to make decisions about your care. Give a copy of the directive to your usual service provider(s) so that it can become part of your medical record. Laws about advance directives vary from State to State. Work with a lawyer, paralegal, or advocate to write your advance directive.

What are State Protection and Advocacy programs?

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Each State, as well as the District of Columbia and the five Territories, has a Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) program. PAIMI programs safeguard the rights of people with mental illness. Where problems are found, PAIMI programs pursue legal, administrative, and other remedies to ensure protection of rights for people with severe mental illness. People with disabilities who are not eligible for PAIMI services may be eligible for other programs within the Protection and Advocacy (P&A) system, such as the Protection and Advocacy for Individual Rights (PAIR) program or the Client Assistance Program (CAP).

What does the Americans with Disabilities Act do?

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The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ensures that people with disabilities, such as severe mental illness, have legal protection against discrimination in the workplace, housing and residential settings (including treatment facilities such as hospitals), public programs, and telecommunications. The ADA's goal is to give the 54 million Americans with disabilities full and equal opportunities (President Bush's New Freedom Initiative, 2002)./