What is Injustice Trauma?

Get an Outline, Answers, and Support Options for PTSD at Icarus

Injustice trauma can take an extreme physical and emotional toll. People in marginalized groups who experience injustice trauma face post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health concerns at a higher rate than the general population.

No one deserves to endure injustice trauma, and bringing awareness to the problem is essential. Getting specialized support through a program like ours can help people who have experienced various forms of injustice trauma and its effects. So, what should you know about injustice trauma and treatment?

Let’s talk about what injustice trauma is, examples of injustice trauma, mental health concerns individuals may face as a result of injustice trauma, and how treatment can help.

What is Injustice Trauma? 3 Examples of Origins

Injustice trauma is a type of trauma disorder that occurs as the result of discrimination, inequality, or other forms of unfair treatment. Unfortunately, members of all marginalized groups frequently endure injustice and trauma.

Often, those who experience injustice trauma are targeted based on one of the following. However, these are only a few of the most widespread examples. People can also face injustice or marginalization trauma based on age, appearance, body size, or something else.

1) Trauma Based on Race, Ethnicity, or National Origin

Recognized by Mental Health America (MHA) and other organizations, racial trauma is a very prevalent form of injustice trauma. Being falsely accused of a crime, police brutality, denial of housing or rental applications, and workplace discrimination are all common examples of systemic racism. Black people make up 33% of today’s prison population, and people of color are less likely to own homes in the United States.

Individuals may also experience physical and verbal attacks or other forms of trauma. For example, there were 1,500 reported incidents of anti-Asian racism in the span of one month following the coronavirus outbreak, and 38% of Spanish-speaking people were verbally attacked for speaking Spanish in 2018.

2) Sexual Orientation and Gender-Related Trauma

LGBTQIA+ individuals are more likely to endure hate crimes and violent assault, including rape or sexual assault, physical assault, and robbery, than people who are heterosexual and cisgender. Microaggressions, systemic injustice, and overall minority stress also have a heavy impact on sexual orientation and gender minorities. Research shows that LGBTQIA+ people are more likely to have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Similarly, gender-based violence, which is most common in women, girls, transgender, and nonbinary people but can impact anyone, remains rampant and leads to higher rates of PTSD as well as other consequences for the abuse victim. Two examples of this are human trafficking and sexual assault, which affect women and girls more often than men and boys.

3) Being Traumatized Due to Disability and Income Status

Unfair treatment in healthcare, when applying for benefits, or at work, affects around 40% of adults with disabilities. By contrast, the general population only experiences these incidents at 18%. Poverty often affects people with disabilities, as to other barriers, like access to transportation.

When it comes to income status as a standalone issue, low-income people have less access to healthcare, educational, financial, and other services than people of a higher socioeconomic status. Low-income status is associated with a wide variety of physical and mental health issues, and while Medicaid is an option for the treatment of these conditions, it is not always accessible, even for those in need.

Many low-income people work long, hard hours to keep up with rent and bills (which may not happen, putting individuals at constant risk of loss of electricity, homelessness, etc.) and there are very few resources to fill in the gaps. Daily stress from these experiences builds up and weighs on your mind and body, not to mention the negative societal beliefs often projected on lower-income individuals and families.

Injustice Trauma and its Effects on Mental Health

Injustice trauma is heavily associated with a wide range of physical and mental health issues. If you have experienced injustice trauma, you may experience one or more of the following. The good news is that the right kind of treatment can help.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Social injustices are linked to PTSD. Many people experiencing injustice trauma meet the criteria for PTSD. Regardless of whether PTSD symptoms are due to experiences within the justice system, abuse, violence, or something else, working with a mental health professional like a therapist who understands is integral.

Mental health providers must have an awareness of injustice trauma to treat it adequately. Sometimes, a provider might even have experiences with injustice trauma themselves, which is important for some individuals seeking care.

Substance Use and Eating Disorders

Although minority status and addiction have a relationship, it is also the case that marginalized groups often have worse experiences in substance abuse treatment. Eating disorders, too, are more prevalent in some populations, like LGBTQIA+ individuals, women, and people who have experienced food insecurity.

Sometimes, both substance abuse and eating disorders occur partially because they are an accessible coping mechanism when you don’t have other ways to work through challenges yet. Healing from and addressing underlying issues and working to feel safe in your body after injustice trauma is integral.

Other Mental Health Concerns

Depression, suicide, and other mental health concerns are more prevalent among some demographics than others. For example, LGBTQIA+ individuals are more likely to endure depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. The same is true for those of a low socio-economic status.

We also know that protective measures, like support from the people around you, the use of preferred pronouns, and increased access to both basic needs and mental health services, are associated with a lower risk of various mental health concerns.

How Treatment for Injustice Trauma Helps

Combating injustice trauma requires that mental health providers and treatment centers are trauma-informed and aware of the issues that disproportionately face marginalized groups. Icarus Behavioral Health has trauma-informed providers who are here to help you protect your well-being and overcome challenges resulting from injustice.

We have a no-tolerance policy for discrimination and violence among staff and program participants.

Icarus Behavioral Health uses different forms of mental health and trauma therapies to address trauma symptoms, promote accessible self-care, help you build a strong set of coping strategies, and increase resilience or distress tolerance.

Treatments and services offered by Icarus Behavioral Health include but aren’t limited to the following:

• Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
• Access to specialized support groups
• Medication management (if applicable)
• Job and education support
• Expressive Arts Therapy
• Mindfulness
• Body Movement
• Life Skills

Icarus Behavioral Health offers inpatient treatment and outpatient treatment services for trauma. Clients facing concurrent substance abuse may attend detox short-term prior to entering another care level. All clients at Icarus Behavioral Health get individualized treatment plans to aid their unique healing process. Our treatment programs combine group and individual therapy, as well as other supportive treatment activities.

Icarus Behavioral Health takes most forms of insurance, including many Medicaid plans. Please call our admissions line to verify your insurance coverage for treatment today.

Reach Out to Icarus Behavioral Health for Trauma Treatment

The psychological impact of injustice trauma can be severe. Getting help can protect you from further harm, make sense of the emotions that might show up in your life, and reach a place of recovery from the ways trauma could manifest in your life.

It’s vital that you’re personally comfortable with the medical and mental health professionals you see. We’re here to help. Call our admissions line today to learn more about the treatment options for injustice trauma, substance abuse, and other mental health concerns at Icarus Behavioral Health.

All calls are confidential, so please reach out in confidence for our support today!

FAQs Regarding Injustice Trauma

What are the symptoms of injustice trauma?

Often, signs of injustice trauma are similar to symptoms of trauma disorders overall. For example, hypervigilance, anger, or feelings of depression. That said, injustice trauma can come with some additional challenges, too.

Lack of trust in other people, but especially in authority figures and related professionals (e.g., law enforcement, healthcare providers) who may have caused harm in the past, is an example of the specific impact injustice trauma might have.

How do you release trauma from your body?

Physical symptoms, like gastrointestinal stress, trouble sleeping, fatigue, and body aches, are common in trauma survivors. Trauma-informed professional help in the form of therapies like those offered at Icarus Behavioral Health are evidence-based and effective in treating physical and mental health symptoms associated with trauma.

References

1. https://www.mhanational.org/racial-trauma
2. https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/blog/nearly-every-state-people-color-are-less-likely-own-homes-compared-white-households
3. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/specific/trauma_discrimination_lgbtq.asp
4. https://ascpjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13722-021-00256-4
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7596309/
6. https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/2023-10/
7. https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/five-ways-to-support-lgbtq-mental-health
8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3716375/