Providing the right care, together
At Kaiser Permanente, our behavioral health professionals are trained to support people in healing from their traumas and helping them rewrite their futures, whether their trauma occurred recently or years ago.
A trauma-informed approach to care acknowledges the complex impact of trauma on individuals. This method not only helps address effectively the needs of those experiencing trauma but also offers them the best opportunity to heal. Right from the start, our behavioral health professionals can identify those experiencing the effects of trauma and collaborate with care teams across Kaiser Permanente to provide comprehensive and coordinated care. This approach ensures that people receive the support they need, whether it’s primary care, other specialty care, or social services.
Routine trauma screening is also often incorporated in medical checkups to ensure we are taking every opportunity to identify individuals who might benefit from further evaluation and support for potential mental health impacts related to past trauma.
Care for the caregivers
When addressing trauma on such a large scale, it’s important also to address the mental well-being of our behavioral health professionals. When treating trauma survivors, some behavioral health professionals report secondary trauma, in which they “absorb” the traumatic stories they hear, potentially impacting their own mental health.
The health and well-being of Kaiser Permanente’s workforce is a critical priority. We support our behavioral health professionals by equipping them with skills to maintain healthy boundaries and encouraging them to prioritize their own emotional and physical health. They also have a variety of programs available to them to support their mental wellness, including our Employee Assistance Program and mental health programs, which include mental health apps.
Healing together
At Kaiser Permanente, we understand trauma can leave a lasting impression, not only on individuals, but on whole communities. On the individual level, we provide integrated, trauma-informed care to ensure we meet the comprehensive needs of trauma survivors. We are here to help patients on their journey to healing and recovery, and no matter what trauma they have experienced, or continue to experience, we will walk beside them every step of the way.
On a greater scale, we believe wholeheartedly in our mission to improve the well-being of people and families in the communities we serve. In service of that mission, we provide free online behavioral health webinars and work alongside community organizations and public health colleagues to address social factors that influence health and access to care. In 2020, trauma and stress were 2 focus areas of a $40 million grant that Kaiser Permanente provided to partner organizations to improve health outcomes in communities of color. In 2024 alone, Kaiser Permanente invested $4.6 billion to address social health challenges and improve community health. At Kaiser Permanente, we are dedicated to fostering supportive communities and care systems that promote individual and collective healing from trauma.
