‘Resilience’ Documentary Draws Attention To Childhood Adversity

Around 683,000 children were reported to be victims of abuse and neglect nationwide in 2015, according to the most recent figures from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. A documentary being screened across northern Wisconsin seeks to raise awareness of the long-term impacts surrounding childhood adversity.

Reba Rice, CEO of Northlakes Community Clinics, said they’re screening the documentary “Resilience” around northern Wisconsin. She said the film talks about adverse childhood experiences that create toxic stress when a child doesn’t have a safe and structured relationship with an adult.

“There are several possible examples,” she said. “What the science has done is narrowed them down to ten specific kinds of either abuse, neglect, or family dysfunction.”

Rice said children need strong, stable adults who can help them become resilient and rebound from difficult situations. She said challenging childhood experiences can have a significant impact on kids’ mental or physical health because children are still developing.

“For example, it turns out that somebody who has these terrible childhood events that impacts them and contributes to their toxic stress can be more of a predictor of them having ischemic heart disease, which is the No. 1 killer in America right now, (rather) than a parent’s history of heart disease,” she said.

Rice said the documentary shares many different aspects of childhood adversity, including stories from adults who had negative experiences as children and how to prevent them.

Child abuse and neglect also take a financial toll on the healthcare, education and criminal justice systems. One year of child maltreatment cases can cost around $124 billion over a lifetime, according to a 2012 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The next screening of the documentary “Resilience” will be held in Washburn at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 21, at the Harbor View Event Center.