Trauma is a significant mental health phenomenon that should not be confused with the stress of a failed exam or a break-up with a significant other. Rather, trauma is “an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life-threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being.” Trauma also undermines a student’s sense of self and safety.
Trauma-informed care, including case management, is a crucial support for students enduring basic needs insecurity. This brief explores the role that social work guidelines could play in student affairs case management with regard to addressing students’ basic needs.