Adverse childhood experiences

The mental health and psychological well-being of children has become an increasing concern in recent years. There is a growing body of evidence of the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Evidence demonstrates a strong link between ACEs and a wide range of health and social problems across the lifespan.
ACEs are highly stressful events or situations. They can occur during childhood and/or adolescence. It can be a single event, or prolonged threats to, and/or breaches of a child or young person’s safety, security, trust or bodily integrity.
Psychologists, researchers and schools have begun to work together to address the impact of ACE’s. Increasingly, schools are using their understanding of ACE’s to develop services for children and young people.
Useful websites to look at when considering taking on an ACE’s based approach include:

• Routine Enquiry about Adverse Childhood Experiences by Public Health England 2018
• Free 50 minute training course on the impact of adverse childhood experiences