RESEARCH AND FACTS.
Suicide and Self-Harm
People who have experienced Complex trauma have are over 31 times more likely to attempt suicide.
Source: Dube SR, Anda RF, Felitti VJ, Chapman DP, Williamson DF, Giles WH. Childhood Abuse, Household Dysfunction, and the Risk of Attempted Suicide Throughout the Life Span: Findings From the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study. JAMA. 2001;286(24):3089–3096. doi:10.1001/jama.286.24.3089
Substance Abuse
While estimates can vary, depending on the study methodology, it is estimated that survivors of Complex Trauma are 4.3 times more likely to develop as substance use disorder. It is also estimated that in North America over 40% of people with substance use disorders experienced childhood trauma.
Source: Broekhof R, Nordahl HM, Tanum L, Selvik SG. Adverse childhood experiences and their association with substance use disorders in adulthood: A general population study (Young-HUNT). Addict Behav Rep. 2023 Mar 30;17:100488. doi: 10.1016/j.abrep.2023.100488. PMID: 37077505; PMCID: PMC10106480.
Source: Zhang S, Lin X, Liu J, Pan Y, Zeng X, Chen F, Wu J. Prevalence of childhood trauma measured by the short form of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire in people with substance use disorder: A meta-analysis. Psychiatry Res. 2020 Dec;294:113524. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113524. Epub 2020 Oct 22. PMID: 33157482.
Homelessness
People with childhood trauma histories are 2.5 times more likley to experience homelessness.
Source: Widom CS, Courtney K, Do HH. Pathways to Homelessness: Childhood Maltreatment and Psychiatric Symptoms Increase Risk of Homelessness. Am J Psychiatry. 2024 Dec 1;181(12):1103-1111. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20230649. PMID: 39616458; PMCID: PMC11611070.
Work Impairment
People with Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) are 3 times more likely to experienced reduced work capacity
Source: Brenner L, Köllner V, Bachem R. Symptom burden and work-related impairment among patients with PTSD and complex PTSD. Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2019 Nov 27;10(1):1694766. doi: 10.1080/20008198.2019.1694766. PMID: 31807235; PMCID: PMC6882441.
Life Expectancy
People with childhood trauma histories have a 20 year lower life expectancy
Source: Brown DW, Anda RF, Tiemeier H, Felitti VJ, Edwards VJ, Croft JB, Giles WH. Adverse childhood experiences and the risk of premature mortality. Am J Prev Med. 2009 Nov;37(5):389-96. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2009.06.021. PMID: 19840693.