Children 1st comment on University of Dundee study on adverse childhood experiences

Comment on The University of Dundee study which shows that adverse childhood experiences put children at higher risk of developing multiple long-term health conditions in adulthood:

Mary Glasgow, chief executive of Children First, said: “While the devastating impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences has long been recognised, this important new study is a wake-up call to all of us to do more to protect Scotland’s children.

“As a society we need to provide greater support and understanding to children and adults affected by trauma. An estimated one in three children experience at least one traumatic event before the age of 18.

“As Scotland’s national child protection charity, Children First supports children to recover from trauma and abuse every day, working with them for as long as it takes. But, with shrinking public services and growing waiting lists, the demand for our support is greater than ever.

“Every child has a right to the help they need to recover from trauma, and we urge all governments, to tackle poverty, support children’s mental health and invest in early help for families.”