As crime continues to rise and be an issue around Central Ohio, the Department of Public Safety is hoping to decrease the crime by addressing trauma with a care conference at the Church of Christ of the Apostolic Faith.

When the word "trauma" comes up, it tends to come with negativity and in some cases violence.

Director Robert Clark is hoping to help people cope with the issue by starting a conversation.

"What I want to accomplish today first and foremost, is for the community to come together for this conversation," Director Clark said. "For this very organic and necessary conversation about what is trauma."

The department is confident that the conference shedding light on the topic can lead to helping other issues around Central Ohio.

"And we feel very strongly that we'll be able to reduce the impacts of trauma. Which will ultimately reduce the violent crimes, violence and stress," He added.

The event was seen as a safe space to help educate on the topic so many try to "brush off."

Experts from the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s STAR (Stress Trauma and Resilience) program, Big Lots Behavioral Health Services and The Center for Safety and Healing at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and Columbus Public Health’s CARE (Community, Action, Resilience, and Empowerment) Coalition also took part in providing resources and information with the conference.

One of the experts included was Dr. Tony King, the director of the resilience program at Ohio State.

"Effective treatments do exist. And that's why I think a program like today is so important. It's recognizing that you can do something. For self-care or for family members, or loved ones who have been exposed to trauma," Dr. King said.

One of the focuses was to bring awareness to childhood trauma.

Shari Uncapher with the Big Lots Behavioral Health Services and the Center for Safety and Healing at Nationwide Children’s Hospital said the conversation with youth is an important one, to help them cope with the tough subject.

"Talking to them doesn't make them focus on it more. It allows them to release it. The more that they can understand it. Share it with the same adult, they can let it go," Uncapher said.

As the trauma care conference was the first of its kind for the department, Director Clark said that it's the first of many more.

"This will be an ongoing series. We are planning right now and we are talking about de-escalation. Who is responsible for de-escalating, in our communities, in our playgrounds, in our schools, in our places of work, and even in our places of worship."