Lorain resident hopes to raise awareness for childhood trauma

LORAIN — Brandon West, of Lorain, stood in front of the script Lorain sign Thursday morning to raise awareness for childhood trauma and his push to see it declared an emergency by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. West, a victim of childhood trauma himself, met with Lorain Mayor Jack Bradley to discuss a resolution urging the governor to declare a state of emergency around the issue in the spring. Weeks later, a resolution came before City Council and was passed unanimously on June 20. "It felt really liberating because, to me, a lot of representation here in Ohio is kind of lacking," West said. "And it affects mental health when you feel like you're not represented by your local or state or even federal government. So having all of this happen in such a quick time, it made me tear up while I was there and it made me feel very motivated and eager to continue my activism." During a livestream on Twitter on Thursday, West said childhood trauma — which includes living in poverty, divorce, death of a parent, violence in the home or community, living with someone with mental illness or addiction or experiencing racism — is on the rise in Ohio and across the country. "Struggle is inherent in the continuous journey known as human existence, but trauma does not have to be," West said. "We are called upon today and every day to end childhood trauma, which is a bold and noble calling, which provides for all representations of all identifies and political ideologies to come together at the table of humanity." Lorain's resolution calls for Gov. DeWine to take action to address childhood trauma throughout the Buckeye state, including increasing education on the issue, and treatment for conditions caused by post-traumatic stress disorders related to child development. West also has a change.org petition with more than 100 signatures on it hoping to sway the governor to act. Declaring a state of emergency would provide training for educators and social workers on the impact of trauma on a child's brain, body and nervous system, funding and resources for schools and trauma-informed therapists for public schools, according to West's petition. The Ohio House has a resolution on the issue as well. Introduced in April 2021, it has been in the House Behavioral Health and Recovery Supports Committee since November. West received support from Ohio Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Brunner, who in a statement said she's seen the impact of childhood trauma. "As a foster parent in the late 1990s, I sought counseling for the children in my custody," Brunner said in a statement. "For one child in particular, the trauma was so deep, not even counseling could reach the wounds. I wish I could say that child was alive today. Broken hearts are not visible, but their effects can be felt for a lifetime." Cincinnati passed a resolution similar to Lorain's after a push from the Childhood Trauma Emergency Cincinnati, a nonprofit led by Ronald Hummons. Hummons, whose own childhood was marked by abandonment and abuse, led to his work as an activist and mental health advocate. West and other activists hope to have at least six other Ohio cities do the same, he said. "I've had childhood trauma happen to me and growing up it has really affected me and I don't want anybody else to go through such trauma," West said during his livestream. "No child deserves to go through that kind of trauma. But it was hard enough for me to come out here to make this stand, knowing that for now, no one has showed up. … No matter how small or how big the viewing gets on this livestream, or if anybody does show up or not it still matters. And I'm still here making this statement." To get involved with West, contact him on Twitter @BrandonWest01 or email brandon.dan.west@gmail.com. For more information on the issue, visit childhoodtraumaemergency.org.