What Childhood Trauma Actually Does To Your Brain & How To Heal

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Their Impact on Adult Mental Health

Adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, continue to affect people in adulthood. Many adults with emotional issues don’t realize that the traumatic experiences from their childhood are at the root of their problems. And they certainly don’t understand that those incidents changed the way their brain functions, which further contributes to their ongoing mental health issues.

Investigating the Impact of ACEs on Mental and Cognitive Well-being

Researchers have spent decades investigating the impact of ACEs on mental and cognitive well-being. Nearly 30 years ago, scientists at Kaiser Permanente teamed with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to conduct a large study involving 17,337 adult participants1.

The ACE Questionnaire and its Evolution

The research team sought to identify how many ACEs they had experienced in addition to their lasting effects. The study included 8 questions regarding abuse, neglect, domestic violence, and more. Roughly 25% of the participants reported three or more ACEs.

In the decades since that landmark study, the ACE questionnaire has evolved to include ten questions covering:

1. Physical abuse
2. Emotional abuse
3. Sexual abuse
4. Physical neglect
5. Emotional neglect
6. Domestic violence
7. Substance abuse in the household
8. Mental illness in the household
9. Parental separation or divorce
10. Incarceration of a household member

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The article discusses the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on mental health and ongoing mental health issues in adulthood. This aligns with SDG 3, which aims to promote good health and well-being for all.

SDG 4: Quality Education

The article mentions the evolution of the ACE questionnaire, which includes questions covering various aspects of childhood experiences. This relates to SDG 4, which focuses on quality education and ensuring that learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed for sustainable development.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

The article does not explicitly mention gender equality, but it discusses the impact of childhood trauma on individuals’ mental health. Considering that women and girls can be disproportionately affected by violence and trauma, this connects to SDG 5, which aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being

The article highlights the lasting effects of ACEs on individuals’ mental health, indicating the need to promote mental health and well-being as part of efforts to reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases.

Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including among others through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development

The article mentions the evolution of the ACE questionnaire, which reflects the importance of education for understanding and addressing childhood trauma. This aligns with the target to ensure that learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed for sustainable development.

Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation

The article does not explicitly discuss violence against women and girls, but it emphasizes the impact of childhood trauma on mental health. Considering that women and girls can be disproportionately affected by violence, this target is relevant in addressing the broader issue of trauma and violence.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention specific indicators related to the identified targets. However, potential indicators that could be used to measure progress towards these targets include:

• Indicator 3.4.1: Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, or chronic respiratory disease
• Indicator 4.7.1: Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment
• Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months, by form of violence and by age group

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators