Institutional trauma refers to the psychological harm that occurs when a person experiences repeated distress, neglect, or betrayal within an institution they depend on, such as a school. Unlike a single traumatic event, institutional trauma often develops through ongoing interactions where concerns are dismissed, supports are denied, or harm is not acknowledged. Because schools are places children attend daily and families rely on for care and learning, negative experiences within these systems can have lasting emotional and developmental effects. Institutional trauma may affect both students and families, shaping how safe they feel engaging with the education system in the future.