HJBR Nov/Dec 2021

56 NOV / DEC 2021 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE CHILDREN’S HEALTH COLUMN CHILDREN’S HEALTH Addressing Childhood Trauma and Loss in the Context of Hurricane Ida and the Pandemic: WHAT HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS CAN DO TO HELP Traumatic events and losses can happen at any time and have the potential to produce long-lasting, detrimental effects for children and teens. In fact, the majority of our society’s most significant problems, including school failure, domestic violence and community violence, stem from unresolved childhood traumas and losses. By quickly identifying youth most “at risk” for developing mental health issues as a result of a traumatic event, we can provide timely evidence-based treatments to ensure the future health and well-being of our society’s youngest members. Healthcare providers are uniquely positioned to do just that, given that they are often the first point of contact following a traumatic event.