Mental Health & Wellbeing Program

Supporting psychological and emotional recovery

Trauma doesn’t just affect the body—it also impacts mental health and emotional wellbeing. Our program integrates specialized psychological care into trauma treatment to address the unique challenges our patients face.

Woman sitting on a couch, appearing deep in thought.

Mental health conditions linked to traumatic injuries

Traumatic injuries significantly increase the risk of mental health conditions such as:

Acute Stress Disorder (ASD)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Depression and Anxiety
Substance Use Disorders

The high cost of ignoring mental health in trauma care

Many trauma patients already have pre-existing mental health diagnoses, which can worsen without proper care. When left untreated, these conditions can lead to:

Higher hospital readmission and recidivism rates
Social and functional impairments
Chronic disease and poor quality of life
Suicidal ideation—up to 50% of patients with severe PTSD symptoms experience suicidal thoughts within a year of hospitalization (American College of Surgeons, 2023)

Our collaborative approach with UCLA Psychology

The HEaL Trauma Program integrates mental health care into every step of the recovery process, ensuring patients and providers have the tools they need for success. By addressing physical, emotional, and social needs, we aim to improve outcomes, foster resilience, and redefine trauma care for lasting healing.

In 2024, UCLA Trauma Surgery partnered with UCLA Psychology(Link is external). A clinical psychology fellow, supervised by Dr. April Thames, joined the team to provide specialized support.

Trauma psychology services

: Patients are evaluated during their hospital stay to identify and address mental health needs.
Services include:
Diagnosing co-occurring mental health conditions
Assessing risk factors such as:
Substance use
Suicidal or homicidal ideation
Domestic or self-directed violence
Evaluating family dynamics and support systems
Coordinating post-hospital treatment and referrals
: Patients receive personalized therapy to support recovery, both during hospitalization and after discharge.
Services include:
Inpatient Therapy:
Weekly or more frequent sessions as needed during the hospital stay
Focus on addressing issues that interfere with medical treatment or recovery
Outpatient Therapy:
Weekly or biweekly sessions, in person or via telehealth (based on patient preference)
Short-term care (8–16 sessions) focused on post-discharge adjustment and transition to long-term support if needed
: Our Clinical Psychologist also supports the mental health and resilience of the trauma team.
Services include:
In-service training on trauma-informed care and understanding mental health symptoms
Workshops on burnout prevention and communication skills
Debriefing sessions after stressful cases
Regular updates on patient progress to enhance coordinated care

Explore more trauma recovery services

Community-Based Social Care

Post-Discharge PTSD Screening Program

Reference: American College of Surgeons. (2023, January 10). Best practices guidelines: Screening and intervention for mental health disorders and substance use and misuse in the acute trauma patient. Retrieved from https://www.facs.org