Addressing childhood trauma will take a movement
This short video does a fantastic job at explaining the science behind Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Childhood trauma is remarkably common, and has an incredible powerful impact on our ability to be healthy...UNLESS we are able heal from that trauma.
Pediatrician Nadine Burke Harris lays things out clearly, and names the issue as the public health crisis that is is. "The single most important thing that we need today is the courage to look this problem in the face and say, this is real and this is all of us."
Thanks to Stephanie Leblanc of Oxford County Mental Health Services, who convenes our Behavioral Health workgroup, for bringing this video to our attention. That workgroup, as well as our Community Safety Workgroup and their partners at RSU10, are working to address ACEs and resilience (those supportive factors that promote healing). The Western Public Health District is also focused on ACEs and a root cause of poor health. We're fortunate to have so much good work going on in western Maine to address this critical topic. Want to get involved? Be in touch! In Harris's words, it will take a movement to do this work.
