Traumatic experiences trigger a constellation of psychological and emotional symptoms. Therapeutic interventions have been developed to support people in understanding and overcoming these symptoms. However, many approaches have a strong reliance on language. This can be problematic as traumatic experiences create significant barriers to the…

The growing literature on access, participation, and success of refugees entering higher education has illustrated the myriad challenges that this cohort faces. Much of this research has rightly focused on the student perspective, exploring the barriers and challenges that impede entry, engagement, and achievement. Relatedly, there is growing…

Evidence-based health interventions are frequently translated into real-world settings where practical needs drive changes to intervention protocols. Due to logistical and resource constraints, these naturally arising adaptations are rarely assessed for comparative effectiveness using a randomized trial. Nevertheless, when observational data are…

One in four children experience an adverse childhood stressor before reaching adulthood, and the prevalence of these stressors is even higher for children of color. Researchers have coined the terms "race-based traumatic stress" and "racial trauma" to specifically refer to the experiences of trauma associated with…

This autoethnography aims to explore how resilience supported me in navigating identity confusion after discovering my Métis heritage at 19, coinciding with meeting my father for the first time. The data sources I analyzed were reflective journal entries, photographs, a self-written letter, and three art pieces to track my progress. Informing this…

Classroom environments, virtual and face-to-face, are changing; we are moving to focus more explicitly on students' health and well-being and to ensure we actively promote anti-racist educational environments for students. This paper examines how we can enshrine those lessons into academic programs by institutionalizing a trauma-responsive…

Bullying is widely accepted as a significant issue confronting schools across the globe. The potential short and long-term consequences of bullying for involved students include negative academic and mental health impacts. It is known that a whole-school approach is required to effectively manage bullying. As such, school psychologists and…

The COVID-19 pandemic caused extreme hardships for K-12 schools throughout the United States, exacerbating existing challenges such as rising mental health concerns among students, teacher fatigue, and workforce shortages. This article examines the enduring impacts of the pandemic on students, school professionals, and school systems, and…

Previous research indicates pandemics have a traumatic effect on individuals. The COVID-19 pandemic has been traumatic for all students of all races and socioeconomic households. The pandemic has, however, intensified racial trauma by exacerbating racial disparities already existing in American society. Racial trauma has been linked to poor…

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (2013), more than 29 million people fall under the UNHCR's mandate, which includes "all persons outside their country of origin for reasons of feared persecution, conflict, generalized violence, or other circumstances that have seriously disturbed public order and who, as a…

Our classrooms have not been the same since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down schools and forced us to rethink everything we know about teaching. While much of the public conversation has centered on "learning loss," the author instead found that personal loss and collective trauma have had the strongest impact on defining the differences…

Despite the fact that schools remain incredibly safe spaces for children and youth to spend time, the occurrence of mass school shootings, although rare, is a pressing issue for our society. In this paper we discuss the importance of action, advocacy, and research related to mass school shootings. Specifically, we discuss research-based actions…

Post-pandemic, there has been a rise in verbal and physical fights and bullying as well as a greater number of students who are failing to engage in the classroom. While the pandemic contributed to the struggles that children are experiencing, inconsistency in schools has added to the challenge. The collective trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic…

The influence of the global health crisis and systemic racism on the return to campus are enormous. With differing experiences, opinions, and ideas about what is needed, individuals are challenged to understand their own and others' lived experiences in 2020. Campuses should be prepared for the emotional healing and systemic changes needed in…

In the Angel Studios 2024 movie "Cabrini" set in 1889, an Italian immigrant woman comes to America with a fierce passion for helping marginalized children. Charged with a seemingly impossible task, she perseveres through each obstacle. While watching the movie, I felt angry throughout at the injustices faced. Afterwards, I felt inspired…