Star’s son in trauma campaign
A Tauranga psychologist is teaming up with the son of a Hollywood movie star to start a national conversation on the impact traumatic childhood events have on mental health.
Janet Peters has met Robert Redford’s son, James Redford, in Auckland to discuss the issue. Redford recently directed an acclaimed documentary on the topic, Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope.
Peters’ aim was to organise a screening as a nationwide fundraiser for a children’s charity while raising awareness of the issue.
She has been researching adverse childhood experiences and traumainformed care and recently wrote a report for the International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership.
“My interest is that I have a background in trauma personally, thus want to help others.”
She said research showed traumatic events in childhood created toxic stress that had physical, mental and emotional health impacts that often carried through to adulthood.
“Toxic stress can change the chemicals in your body and it’s hard to learn, hard to relate to people, hard to thrive.”
The science showed it was a real issue but in New Zealand health professionals were just starting to be trained in it, Peters said.
“The Bay of Plenty District Health Board has taken on board international research which shows that if children experience many adverse childhood experiences they are more likely to have future mental health, addiction and physical health problems. They are actively training staff with this research.”
Redford said after the release of his documentary: “When I started hearing about the emerging science of adversity and childhood stress, my mind was blown . . . Who knew if your parents got a divorce when you were growing up, you have a significantly higher risk of heart disease? Or that if your mother had a drinking problem, your own risk for depression in adulthood is much higher?”