No one can escape stress, but sometimes it takes a physical and emotional toll that translates to disease and other health effects. The good news is that there are new approaches to treating it.
Additional research and attention is needed — particularly in Canada — to provide schools with evidence-based, trauma-informed and culturally attuned approaches to school discipline.
Childhood adversity can put people at risk of perpetrating domestic violence in the future. Having a supportive social network and learning ways to regulate the stress response, however, can help.
Government departments, civil society groups and the private sector should pool resources and work together in a co-ordinated manner to prevent violent crime.
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.
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.
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 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.
As a society, we must shift our collective culture away from a silent complacency around interpersonal trauma and towards intentionally working to prevent it.
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.
California’s surgeon general has implemented schoolwide screenings for trauma. A social work professor explains why the rest of the nation should do the same.
Childhood adversity is linked to social and mental health problems later in life. New research suggests brains that aren’t as good at recognizing rewards and responding to change may be to blame.
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.
Assistant professor, School of Psychology, Scientist, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa
Founder and Executive Director, Center for Violence Prevention Research; Affiliate Faculty with the Crimes Against Children Research Center, University of New Hampshire