Consequences of Trauma and Its Impact on Mental Health

The trauma that Zhu and Ye experienced as a result of an earthquake and the subsequent death of their daughter shows how devastating the consequences of trauma can be. Unfortunately, without managing their trauma effectively, Zhu and Ye’s son also suffered the consequences of their trauma contributing towards mental health issues in future generations of their family. Much psychological research proves that negative experiences in childhood affect people emotionally later in life, but this is also a biblical principle as shown in Exodus 34:6-7:

Let’s consider the consequences of trauma and its impact on mental health.

How trauma affects mental health

Every time trauma is experienced by people, there is a possibility for immediate and future impact on mental health for those affected, as described in Zhu’s and Ye’s tragic circumstances. Those who experience trauma firsthand may be affected mentally and emotionally in the short-term and long-term by a variety of conditions (e.g. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), behavioral and/or anxiety disorders, and suicidal tendencies depending on the severity of the trauma). Innocent family members, such as Zhu’s and Ye’s son, may also bear the effects of trauma and develop similar symptoms of mental illness because those who experienced the initial trauma often lack emotional and relational control and take out their confusing emotions on family and friends.

However, an external traumatic event is not a requirement for mental health problems to arise. Long-term stress, a lack of social and community support and dysfunctional family relationships can also create trauma that contributes to mental illness. Mental illness and trauma can therefore be caused by a variety of factors, real and perceived. This diagram shows the possible consequences of trauma on the mental health of adults.

This diagram shows the possible consequences of trauma on the mental health of children.

Insights into the effect of trauma on mental health

To understand more fully how trauma can negatively affect mental health, watch this video (courtesy of the Lausanne Global Classroom) of professionals and academics in the areas of psychology and psychiatry describing what trauma is and how it relates to mental health.