Prolonged stress during childhood can have life-long consequences on a person’s health and well-being. According to the World Health Organisation, it can disrupt early brain development and weaken the immune and nervous systems. To understand and address the social and mental health challenges caused by childhood issues, about 30 individuals participated in a four-day training in the capital.
The four-day training focused on Trauma-Informed Care and Adverse Childhood Experiences. Trauma-informed care helps recognise, address, and prevent trauma and understand its impacts on lives.
Adverse Childhood Experiences or ACE refer to some of the most intensive and frequently occurring sources of stress that children may suffer early in life such as abuse, neglect and violence among others.
The Chithuen Phendhey Association in collaboration with the East Tennessee State University of America organised the training.
“There are a lot of social issues such as alcoholism, substance use, suicide and mental health challenges. To address the root cause of such an issue, prevention is important. Therefore, the training’s main objective is prevention,” said Tshewang Tenzin, executive director of the Chithuen Phendhey Association.
The training brought together participants from schools and institutions, civil society working with vulnerable populations, Early Childhood Care and Development or ECCD, and individuals living with experiences of substance use and recovery.
“As of now, our focus is mainly on the academic front and everyone is on the academic performance but then we do least about what the child is going through. Especially, if a child is going through emotional issues, the child will not be able to perform academically. Therefore, this programme is aimed towards addressing those issues that are hidden,” said Phuentsho Tashi, principal of Druk School.
“After this training, we can understand our children more. For example, we get to see different types of children at the ECCD and few are hyperactive and aggressive. Through this training, we understand why they are exhibiting such behaviour and accordingly help them overcome it,” said Rinchen Yangzom, proprietor of Blossoms ECCD, Wangdue Phodrang.
The Chithuen Phendhey Association said that the training aimed to equip key stakeholders with the knowledge and tools to create supportive, trauma-sensitive environments for those in need. The association plans to organise more such programmes to raise awareness about trauma and its impact.
According to the WHO, adverse childhood experiences and trauma can lead to harmful behaviours such as alcoholism, depression, eating disorders, unsafe sex and serious health issues like cancer and other chronic diseases.
Singye Dema
Edited by Sonam Pem
