00:03 Adverse childhood experiences, called ACEs, are stressful or traumatic experiences that occur in childhood,

00:10 like violence, abuse, and growing up in a family with substance use or mental health problems.

00:17 When a caring adult or supportive environment doesn't soften those adverse experiences, or when they are ongoing or

00:23 overwhelming, they can lead to a prolonged activation of our stress response called toxic stress.

00:30 Think of toxic stress like this.

00:33 Our bodies were designed to escape predators quickly. Imagine you're walking through the woods and you see a

00:38 bear. Your brain signals your body to release stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol.

00:44 Your heart begins to pound and your body prepares you to either fight or run from the bear. And that's useful if you're in the forest and there's a bear.

00:54 The problem is when children face threats to their physical and emotional safety and this system is activated over and over and over again.

01:04 What was meant to protect you begins to do the opposite and becomes damaging to your health, creating long-lasting wear on your body and brain.

01:13 Children are especially vulnerable to the effects of ACEs and toxic stress because their brains and bodies are still developing.

01:22 The toxic stress from ACEs and other adversities such as poverty, racism, discrimination, and natural disasters

01:30 can disrupt the normal functioning of vital bodily systems.

01:35 Simply put, toxic stress can result in long-term mental and physical health conditions.

01:42 Not only that, but the effects of ACEs can be passed from parent to child for generations through the biological

01:48 changes and behaviors associated with ACEs and toxic stress.

01:53 A person with four or more ACEs is twice as likely to suffer from heart disease, cancer, and stroke.

02:01 Four times as likely to develop depression.

02:05 And 12 times as likely to attempt suicide.

02:09 The good news is that safe, stable relationships and environments and other interventions such as physical and

02:17 mental health support can reduce the risk of ACEs leading to toxic stress and stress-related health conditions.

02:25 To learn more, visit www.osg.ca.gov.