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Articles on Adverse childhood experiences

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Students’ lockers are seen an elementary school in Toronto on Jan. 9, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Trauma-informed approaches to discipline matter for equitable and safe schooling

Additional research and attention is needed — particularly in Canada — to provide schools with evidence-based, trauma-informed and culturally attuned approaches to school discipline.
Children and youth in care often have complex health and social issues, but they often struggle to access comprehensive health care. (Shutterstock)

We know better, so why aren’t we doing better in supporting the health of children and youth in care?

Children and youth in care are more likely to have experienced trauma that can affect future health. A comprehensive, trauma-informed health strategy for these children and youth is long overdue.
Recent advances in research on human development, and brain science in particular, have revealed that traumatic childhood literally changes the human body, affecting brain development. (Shutterstock)

There is an urgent need to prevent the lifelong damage caused by adverse childhood experiences

The impact of early childhood trauma on lifelong physical and mental health makes it urgent to invest in programs to support healthy pregnancies and stable, caring very early childhoods.
Exposure to adverse childhood experiences, as well as disparities in social determinants of health, can significantly affect development and health in children. (Shutterstock)

How health care can respond to the lifelong impact of adverse childhood experiences

Adverse childhood experiences like abuse, neglect and dysfunction at home may not seem like primarily medical problems, but they have significant and enduring impact on physical and mental health.
One child in three is physically or sexually abused or witnesses violence between adults in their home. Other adversities including emotional neglect, living in an unsafe neighbourhood or experiencing prejudice and bullying are even more common. (iStock)

Childhood adversity is a ‘cause of causes’ of adult illnesses and mental health problems

One in three children experiences abuse or neglect. These adverse events increase lifelong risks for chronic diseases and mental health issues, creating a public health hazard hiding in plain sight.
Courts have failed to understand the role childhood trauma can play in adult criminal behaviour. (Shutterstock)

Criminal justice needs a better understanding of childhood trauma

The execution of Lisa Montgomery in the U.S. earlier this year demonstrates how society misunderstands the effects of mental illness and trauma on criminal behaviour.
An immigrant child from Guatemala is seen at a facility in Texas on June 21, 2018. President Donald Trump’s policy to separate children from their parents at the U.S. border is an example of an incident that could result in toxic socialization. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

The damage we’re doing to our children and ourselves

We must work to protect our children from Toxic Socialization, violent experiences in their lives that do lifelong damage.
New research shows that when mothers who have experienced childhood trauma feel supported by the people around them – such as therapists, physicians, friends and neighbours – their risk of pregnancy complications is substantially reduced. (Shutterstock)

How compassion can triumph over toxic childhood trauma

Childhood trauma impacts women’s health and can be passed from parent to child. New research shows that when new mothers feel supported, the risk of pregnancy complications is reduced.

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