We are now in the sixth month of the COVID-19 pandemic and no one knows when life will go back to “normal.” When will kids go back to school safely? When can we hug our friends again? When can we host a big family party?

There is a lot of advice floating around these days, and a self-help narrative is emerging in the United States: We are going to emerge from this period of social distancing as better people. The goals are endless: we are going to learn gratitude, to improve our relationships, and learn new skills.

Violence and trauma are at epidemic levels. Our healthcare system can help. As more brave women and men talk about their histories of sexual trauma, and as more brave veterans educate us on the impact of war, the epidemic of trauma and post-traumatic stress is coming out of the shadows.