Across the globe at this time, trauma is abundant. In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical strife, there are compounding challenges faced by marginalized populations. In the United States, 45% of children have been exposed to at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE), with one in ten children exposed to more than three adverse childhood experiences. A large representative survey of American adults found that 89.7% reported exposure to a traumatic event, with multiple trauma exposure the norm. For individuals who are part of marginalized communities, these numbers are even higher. 

As movements like #MeToo and Black Lives Matter have developed, the impact of societal trauma on marginalized communities has come to the forefront. In mental health, the compounded traumatic experiences these populations face need to be addressed, both among clinicians and in the treatment room. The presentations in this package place much-needed focus on the needs of traumatized people who have been wounded in part because of their skin color, their country of origin, their sexual orientation or simply their very way of being.