National Child Traumatic Stress Network

We live in a world where all children can experience challenges with their mental health, including those caused by trauma. We know all children can heal after trauma; this includes children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Sometimes recovery from trauma requires partnership with child- and family-focused mental health care providers. Caregivers play a large and important role in their child’s treatment and recovery, so having information about what help is critical. It might be time to seek help from a mental health provider if a child has experienced trauma, or you notice concerning changes in your child’s behavior or mood that suggest a traumatic experience may have occurred. For more information on that, check out Understanding Trauma Responses in Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and When to Seek Help. This is especially the case if these changes leave caregivers feeling overwhelmed.