The Children with Post-Traumatic Stress

The Best Reporting on Children with Post-Traumatic Stress

What happens to children and teenagers exposed to violence in their own neighborhoods.

June 24, 2014 - When people think of post-traumatic stress disorder, they often focus on military veterans. But there's growing evidence that PTSD is also a serious problem for American civilians, especially those exposed to violence in their own neighborhoods. Researchers in Atlanta found that 1 out of 3 inner-city residents they interviewed had experienced symptoms consistent with PTSD at some point in their lives.

We've put together a collection of some of the best reporting on PTSD in children and teenagers exposed to community violence. The stories here take a nuanced look at the intersection of trauma, poverty and racism. Not all stories about PTSD in high-violence neighborhoods meet that standard. This May, a local CBS affiliate released a segment on trauma in Oakland youth that referred to PTSD as "hood disease." The anchor who used that term on air later apologized. read more>>>