Trauma Within the Walls | PTSD in Healthcare Environments

Course overview

This learning activity examines post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as an occupational hazard among healthcare workers, exploring how repeated exposure to patient suffering, moral injury, and systemic workplace stressors contribute to psychological trauma. The content provides evidence-based guidance on recognizing PTSD symptoms in oneself and colleagues, understanding risk factors, and implementing trauma-informed interventions at both individual and organizational levels. Readers will learn practical strategies including peer support programs, psychological first aid, effective self-care practices, and evidence-based treatment options, while understanding that sustainable solutions require both personal awareness and systemic organizational commitment to psychological safety, adequate staffing, and accessible mental health resources.