Understanding collective trauma can help you work on your mental health during difficult times. There’s no shortage of information about the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic ― from the increasing rates and intensity of depression and anxiety to the effects on child development. Many experts have referred to the pandemic as an example of “collective trauma.” But what exactly does that categorization mean for us as individuals and our global society as a whole? Below, mental health professionals break down the meaning and impact of collective trauma, as well as how it compares to individual trauma and how we can cope with the experience.