The most significant learning point from this TedMed talk by Nadine Burke Harris is that public health outcomes can improve exponentially if efforts are directed to tackling the foundations and symptoms of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). ACEs are associated with childhood trauma that affects key areas of child development, such as the development of the brain, immune system, and DNA transcription. Second, Nadine notes that children who expressed childhood trauma such as physical violence, excessive substance use, and sexual abuse are likely to engage in risky behaviors later in life. These risky behaviors will lay a foundation for serious diseases such as diabetes, lung cancer, depression, and hypertension, among others. Also, people who had ACEs are more likely to commit suicide than those who did not experience childhood trauma. Last, Burke advises that the best cause of action is to focus on patients' history and address the problem's root cause (Harris, 2015). The most potent advice that pediatrician gives is the need to focus on stemming childhood trauma for the benefit of a healthy population.
ACEs can have adverse effects on the social-emotional development of a child. Children exposed to ACEs often develop toxic stress or depression, which makes it difficult for them to establish healthy relationships. For example, a child who repeatedly becomes physically abused will have a maladaptive stress response system, evidenced by social withdrawal symptoms such as depression (Harris, 2015). Also, they cannot control their emotions, which is reflected through impulse behaviors, anger management problems, and moodiness.
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The research presented by Burke establishes the basis for supporting social-emotional learning (SEL) in schools. According to Burke, adverse childhood experiences are the single most unattended public health problems associated with most health issues facing society. Many people have experienced at least one ACE, which lays a foundation for future adverse health outcomes. Integrating SEL in schools will help children address any childhood trauma from an early life, which will preempt any inclination to engage in risky behaviors (Harris, 2015). Generally, Burke implies that, for example, a doctor can trace the cause of a disease such as lung cancer to ACEs. Helping children overcome the adverse symptoms of childhood trauma should be intertwined with their educational needs.
References
Harris, N. (2015). How Childhood Trauma Affects Health Across A Lifetime [Video]. Retrieved 30 January 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95ovIJ3dsNkPediatrician&feature=youtu.be.
