A new animation has been launched to raise awareness of how certain traumatic childhood events can have an impact on a person throughout their entire life.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (Welsh) from www.substance.org.uk on Vimeo.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are those that directly harm a child; such as physical, verbal and sexual abuse or physical or emotional neglect – as well as those that affect the environment where they grow up; including parental separation, domestic violence, mental illness, alcohol abuse, drug use or incarceration.
The short animation, produced by Blackburn with Darwen Council in partnership with Public Health Wales, tells the story of a young boy growing up, and how his experience with ACEs have affected his life.
It also explains the roles that different agencies can play in preventing them and supporting those impacted.
A study has found that almost half (47 per cent) of adults across Blackburn with Darwen have suffered at least one ACE, with 12 per cent of adults in the borough having suffered four or more.
The Council has also produced a range of supporting information to go along with the animation, which can be found here.
If you, or someone you know, has been affected by any of the issues raised in the animation please contact your GP for advice, or, please seek advice from a range of organisations offering help and support here.
Whilst this issue is clearly not specific to Blackburn with Darwen, we feel it is important to take a proactive approach and raise awareness of how ACEs can affect a person throughout their entire life.
What must be remembered is that ACEs can be prevented. We are doing work across the borough, including this animation, to both prevent ACEs occurring in the first place wherever possible and to prevent the consequences of them in those that have already experienced them.
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