The COVID-19 pandemic triggered a global mental health crisis, with anxiety and depression rates doubling worldwide. Social isolation, economic uncertainty, and disrupted healthcare systems created a perfect storm that continues to impact mental well-being years later, particularly among women, young people, and vulnerable populations. Introduction While the world focused on containing the spread of COVID-19, a parallel pandemic was silently unfolding—one that affected the mind rather than the...

Childhood trauma represents one of the most devastating yet preventable public health challenges of our time. Far from being simply painful memories that fade with time, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) fundamentally alter brain development, create lasting changes in stress response systems, and establish pathways to addiction, mental illness, and chronic physical disease that can persist throughout an individual’s lifetime. Understanding these profound biological impacts is crucial for developing...