Nationally, about 65-70% of children under age 18 will have been exposed to a traumatic event, but there are many evidence-based treatments for trauma

Salt Lake City, UT (PRUnderground) June 24th, 2026

Experts from Intermountain Health say that children who experience trauma may be at risk for developing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, some youth may not receive a PTSD diagnosis because current diagnostic criteria do not always fully capture how trauma symptoms appear in children. Research shows childhood trauma can have a significant impact, and children may be just as vulnerable to PTSD symptoms as adults.

Causes of trauma in children

“Life brings significant ups and downs across many categories. Trauma is a deeply disturbing or distressing experience that is not an everyday or common event,” said Annie Deming, Ph. D, clinical director for pediatric behavioral health and the psychology discipline chief for Intermountain Health Primary Children’s Hospitals.

“For example, the death of a parent or a sibling is considered an uncommon experience during childhood. Forms of abuse or assault, such as physical, sexual, or emotional abuse can be traumatizing. Witnessing violence or someone being harmed in an accident are also examples of trauma,” added Dr. Deming.

National and local statistics of children with PTSD

Nationally, about 65-70% of children under age 18 will have been exposed to a traumatic event. The number of those youth who develop diagnosable PTSD differs by the category of trauma, but it ranges from 15-60%.

“In our behavioral health settings at Intermountain Health Primary Children’s Hospital we found 67% of our pediatric patients in inpatient care and 71% of pediatric patients in day treatment have had an exposure to a traumatic event. Of those, around half met full criteria for PTSD. Even though we knew the national numbers, it was still very sobering to see these numbers in our community,” said Dr. Deming.

Can common experiences such as divorce or bullying be traumatic for children?

“There is a concept called Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs) that takes these types of events into account. Divorce can be stressful on youth and families, but it is not typically considered a “trauma.” Bullying is in a similar category, although if it is severe, it can certainly be traumatic. As ACEs increase in number for a particular child, the impact increases. If a child has multiple ACEs, they are more likely to have mental and physical health concerns,” said Dr. Deming.

Symptoms of PTSD in a child

PTSD in children varies, but often symptoms include those similar to depression and anxiety. There can be low mood, irritability, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, worries, fears, being “on guard” for danger, and feeling ashamed, alone, or guilty. Youth with trauma can also become aggressive at times.

Treatments for childhood PTSD

“Even though it can be discouraging to learn about how many children are exposed to trauma, and how it can affect their lives, the good news is that there are absolutely ways for them to feel better. Even though it might seem counterintuitive, talking about the trauma, in combination with learning skills to cope with trauma symptoms, works,” said Dr. Deming.

There are slightly different treatments for trauma compared to traumatic grief. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network lists many evidence-based treatments for trauma, which means they are proven to work.

“As a psychologist, I’ve seen many youth and families heal and move through even extremely painful circumstances and events. The best thing is seeing these youth go on to live happy and fulfilled lives. Youth who have experienced traumatic events can still love, have families, successful careers, and be happy,” said Dr. Deming.

What parents can do

• Prevention and early identification of traumatic stress is very important.
• Reach out and support family members, friends, or neighbors who could use extra support.
• For parents, identify your own life challenges and get help if needed.
• Come together as a community to support each other and help our youth feel loved, wanted, and important.

There is a counterpoint to ACEs called Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs). These include having a supportive adult in your life, 1-2 non-parent adult mentors who care, having social support such as friends and teammates to spend time with, being a part of a larger community such as a faith or spiritual community, and feeling connected to family.

Resources for parents

Intermountain Health Primary Children’s Center for Safe and Healthy Families at 801-662-3600 is the main resource for childhood trauma. The Primary Children’s Pediatric Behavioral Health service line intake team can be reached at 385-478-2400. An intake specialist will take your call, hear what your concerns are, and then provide resources, either within Primary Children’s Hospital or in the community. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network also has resources for parents and professionals.

Intermountain Children’s Health and Primary Children’s Hospital campuses in Utah (SLC, Lehi, and Taylorsville), also recently earned the honor as the first member of the national Trauma and Grief (TAG) Network in the Western United States – and the fourth in the United States.

About Intermountain Health

Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 34 hospitals, approximately 400 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a nonprofit health plan called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For up-to-date information and announcements, please see the Intermountain Health newsroom at https://news.intermountainhealth.org/. For more information, see intermountainhealth.org/ or call 801-442-2000.

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