By Taheema Ali, The Province, May 20, 2020
Our response to COVID-19 provides useful lessons for other public health crises. One such crisis has universal reach but more subtle and subversive beginnings: adverse childhood experiences or ACEs.
An environment of toxic stress, such as domestic violence, severe mental illness, substance abuse, physical and emotional neglect, or food and housing insecurity, may leave long lasting physiologic scars on young brains. These invisible scars can fuel harmful self-soothing behaviours such as addiction, contributing to another public health crisis: the opioid epidemic. By prioritizing resilience in all children, we build a better future for all.
Lesson one: The actions of one person can prevent illness and death in thousands. British Columbians galvanized to physically distance, “wash (their) hands like (they)’ve been chopping jalapenos” and avoid touching their faces because of the compelling leadership of our provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry. Individuals changed life-long behaviours within days to mitigate a looming health disaster. If Dr. Henry told us a child’s development is everybody’s business, would we listen?
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