Berkshire County in Massachusetts might evoke images of beautiful rolling hills and world-renowned arts venues. And that’s all real. But a group of locals are recognizing a more worrisome aspect of the region: the trauma that many residents live with.

The campaign called “Trauma-Informed Berkshires” joins a national trend of communities that preach awareness, empathy, and patience in the face of severe economic, social, and psychological stress.

Our five-part reporting series looks at this county’s overall effort to become trauma-informed across institutions — from schools and police to libraries and arts groups. It also focuses on several individual people and organizations trying to create change in their own small circles.

Support for this project includes a grant from WHYY in Philadelphia, which receives funding from the Thomas Scattergood Behavioral Health Foundation.