Association Between Trauma and Mental Health

Impact of Sexual Trauma on Mental Health

• Sexual trauma is associated with various mental health problems, including depression, suicidal ideation, self-harm behaviors, and eating disorders, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics 1
• Transgender and gender-diverse persons experience higher rates of sexual assault, leading to higher rates of mental health conditions and chronic medical conditions, as reported by the Mayo Clinic 2
• Sexual trauma in adolescents is linked to risky behaviors, poor contraception use, higher STI rates, and increased risk of victimization by older partners, with moderate strength of evidence 1