The Impact and Treatment of PTSD for Black Women Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence

The trauma experienced by Black women who are survivors of violence is rooted in a complex web of historical, sociological, and genetic factors. These factors continue to be integrated into their lives today as multiple forms of oppression and violence shape how Black women are perceived, positioned, and treated by service organizations, systems, and institutions. There is overwhelming evidence that shows the correlation between compound, chronic stress and trauma in Black women and girls when it is undiagnosed, untreated, and/or unresolved and the negative consequences for the health and wellbeing of survivors. In 2013, the DMS-5 recognized the impact of chronically unsafe and hostile environments on an individual’s mental health. For survivors of intimate partner violence, their homes, jobs, places of worship, and communities can be unsafe. Additionally, survivors may experience ethnic discrimination and racism just by “being,” which creates additional barriers to help-seeking and safe harbor.