Constantly Connected: What Healthcare Providers Need to Know About Vicarious Trauma in an Evolving Digitally...

Easy access to streaming news and sensational headlines has transformed society's exposure to traumatic narratives. From personal stories on social media platforms to news articles about violence in communities, patients and their caregivers may not recognize their exposure as traumatic nor recognize their psychological sequalae as unhealthy. In addition, youth with trauma-related mental health symptoms are not consistently identified in pediatric primary care clinics. Due to the increase in proximity to traumatic stories, healthcare providers working with youth require additional skills designed to engage patients and families in conversations about exposure to violence via technology and symptoms of vicarious trauma. This article aims to summarize current understanding of vicarious trauma via technology, the impact of vicarious trauma on youth, and provide best practices to improve providers' ability to disseminate evidence-based guidance.