* RESILIENCE: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope

FITCHBURG -- The SHINE Initiative and Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School are collaborating on May 8 to observe national Mental Health Month with a special presentation of the award-winning documentary "RESILIENCE: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope."

"RESILIENCE is a 60-minute documentary that delves into the science of ACEs -- Adverse Childhood Experiences -- and a movement to treat and prevent toxic stress.

Now understood to be one of the leading causes of heart disease, cancer, substance abuse, depression (and other illnesses), extremely stressful experiences in childhood can alter brain development and have lifelong effects on health and behavior.

RESILIENCE has been called "an engrossing study of how adverse childhood experiences (or ACEs) can be linked to destructive behavior and medical diseases," said Matt Fagerhom of rogereber.com.

The documentary has also been acclaimed by the Sundance Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival, Cleveland Film Festival and others.

The documentary will be shown in the Stratos Dukakis Performing Arts Center at Monty Tech, 1250 Westminster St., starting at 6:30 p.m. It will be preceded at 5:30 p.m. by a health information and resource fair featuring a number of local and regional providers of healthcare services.

This event is free and open to the public.

For more information contact The SHINE Initiative at 978-870-1494 or email prichard@shineinitiative.org.

The SHINE Initiative was first established in 2004 through Fidelity Bank and is now a recognized leader in Central Massachusetts in the promotion of child and adolescent mental health and wellness, collaborating with numerous schools to educate and inform students, teachers, parents and other caregivers of the signs and symptoms of mental illness, its causes, treatments, how to ask for help, and how to be a supportive caregiver.