When it was controversial to even think of asking parents about taboo subjects, the ACE Study dared to ask questions like, “Were you sexually abused as a child?” “Did you have a parent who was an alcoholic?” The answers produced a public health revelation. For the first time, the loss of a parent through death, divorce or incarceration and other traumatic childhood experiences such as living with an alcoholic parent or being sexually abused was conclusively linked to both physical and mental health problems later in life.
ACE, or Acute Childhood Experiences, are now understood to lead to early onset heart disease, diabetes, addiction and depression. Understanding that a broken-hearted child is more likely to suffer from mental and physical illnesses as an adult has professionals of all kinds asking, “How can we help children before their physical and mental health problems emerge as adults?”
For answers to these questions, please join us at the free showing of this documentary at the Princess Theater in Mt. Ayr, Iowa, on Wednesday, March 7, at 6:30 PM. This event is sponsored by Ringgold County Parents as Teachers Program and 1st Five Initiative with Marion County Public Health Department. For more information, please call Robin at Ringgold County Public Health, 641-464-0691.