Here’s to the bridge-builders, the hand-holders, the light-bringers, those extraordinary souls wrapped in ordinary lives who quietly weave threads of humanity into an inhumane world.
– L.R. Knost

Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child outlines how early childhood experiences are critically linked to children’s mental health in their adult years. The Harvard experts declare that “most potential mental health problems will not become mental health problems if we respond to them early.”

They explain that “‘toxic stress’ can damage brain architecture…Because of its enduring effects on brain development and other organ systems, toxic stress can impair school readiness, academic achievement, and both physical and mental health throughout the lifespan. Circumstances associated with family stress, such as persistent poverty, may elevate the risk of serious mental health problems. Young children who experience recurrent abuse or chronic neglect, domestic violence, or parental mental health or substance abuse problems[…]