_{By World Health Organization (photo by WHO/Malin Bring)}

The findings of a new study on the life-course health consequences and associated annual costs of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) show that preventable trauma in childhood costs north America and the European Region US$ 1.3 trillion a year.

The article, published in the Lancet and co-authored by Dinesh Sethi and Jonathon Passmore, Programme Manager, Violence and Injury Prevention, WHO/Europe, looks at the legacy of ACEs and their societal financial impacts.
ACEs include being a victim of child maltreatment and being exposed to family violence, parental alcoholism or drug abuse, and other severe forms of stress while growing up. While it is just one component of ACE, it is estimated that 55 million children are subject to some form of violence and maltreatment each year in the WHO European Region alone.

ACEs have lifelong consequences for a person’s health and well-being. They are a major risk factor for psychiatric disorders and suicide, and have lifelong after effects, including depression anxiety disorders, smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, aggression and violence towards others, risky sexual behaviours and post-traumatic stress disorders.
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