From ACEs Aware, May 13, 2020
This webinar will focus on building understanding and identifying primary care and telehealth strategies and tools to address the secondary health effects of the COVID-19 emergency.
Widespread stress and anxiety regarding COVID-19, compounded by the economic distress due to lost wages, employment and financial assets; mass school closures; and necessary physical distancing measures can result in an increase of stress-related health conditions.
These secondary impacts of COVID-19, which will acutely affect the health and well-being of Californians in the weeks, months, and years ahead, result from:
- Disruption of access to care, including preventive care and medications.
- Disruption of access to resources needed for health maintenance, such as nutritious foods and safe places to exercise.
- Overactivity of the biological stress response, resulting in neurologic, endocrine, and immunologic dysregulation, also known as the toxic stress response.
Individuals with a history of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are particularly vulnerable to these secondary health impacts of the COVID-19 emergency. Screening patients for ACEs during this time can help identify higher risk patients and guide clinical treatment plans.
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This is the fourth in a series of monthly educational webinars that offer practical information for primary care and behavioral health providers on understanding toxic stress and providing trauma-informed care.
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