Notwithstanding these limitations, the WMH Surveys have significant strengths. We evaluated a wide array of TEs in a large general population sample from 24 countries across six continents, making the results widely representative. Additionally, we evaluated the NOE to each TE in order to estimate each TE type as a proportion of all TE exposures. We found four noteworthy results. First, exposure to TEs is a common experience worldwide, with over two-thirds of individuals reporting a lifetime TE. Second, a small number of TEs account for a large proportion of all TE exposure. Five TEs – witnessing death or serious injury, experiencing the unexpected death of loved one, being mugged, being in a life-threatening automobile accident, and experiencing a life-threatening illness or injury – accounted for over half of all instances of trauma exposure, a pattern that is consistent across countries. Third, TE exposure does not occur randomly in the population. The rate and type of TEs to which individuals are exposed varies according to country of residence, sociodemographic characteristics and history of prior TE exposure. However, rather than identifying
