Generational Trauma and Depression: How Historical Pain Affects Mental Health Today

Trauma doesn’t always end with the person who experiences it. It can be passed down through families, shaping identities, relationships, and even entire communities.

In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Mark Powless, a member of the Oneida Nation, shares his story of growing up in a Native community still impacted by the historical trauma of boarding schools and cultural erasure.

We explore how generational trauma contributes to depression and other mental health challenges, why silence and stigma persist, and how Indigenous healing practices are helping to restore identity, connection, and resilience.

This is a conversation about loss, survival, and the powerful role of culture in creating pathways to healing.

Resources Mark suggests: 

Oneida Nation website: https://oneida-nsn.gov/

Sky Woman Lives in Me by Roberta Capasso: https://www.amazon.com/Sky-Woman-Lives-Roberta-Capasso/dp/1483443469

Boarding School Seasons: American Indian Families, 1900-1940 by Brenda Child: https://www.amazon.com/Boarding-School-Seasons-American-1900-1940-dp-0803214804/dp/0803214804/

Healing the Sound Wound by Eduardo Duran: https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Soul-Wound-Trauma-Informed-Multicultural/dp/0807761397/

Primary Topics Covered:

• What generational trauma is and how it’s passed down
• The connection between historical trauma and depression
• Boarding schools, cultural erasure, and their lingering effects
• Why silence, shame, and stigma prevent open conversations
• Substance use and anger as coping mechanisms for trauma
• How cultural identity shapes resilience and recovery
• The role of Indigenous healing practices like sweat lodges
• Building awareness and hope for future generations

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction and overview of generational trauma
 01:01 – Trauma’s impact on identity, safety, and belonging
 01:48 – Intergenerational trauma in Native communities explained
 03:08 – Mark Powless shares his personal story
 03:59 – Historical events shaping present-day struggles
 05:06 – The trauma of boarding schools and cultural erasure
 06:11 – Family disconnection and inherited silence
 07:39 – Coping through anger, grief, and substance use
 08:35 – The meaning of cultural traditions in healing
 09:57 – Triggers and reactivation of old wounds
 11:21 – Carrying grief across generations
 13:49 – Indigenous practices for breaking cycles of trauma
 14:17 – Teaching younger generations about mental health
 14:57 – Healing as a lifelong journey
 15:54 – Closing reflections on trauma and resilience

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