Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE's)

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are stressful events occurring in childhood including:

• Domestic Violence

• Parental Abandonment through Separation or Divorce

• A Parent with a Mental Health Condition

• Being the Victim of Child Abuse (Physical, Sexual And/Or Emotional)

• Being the Victim of Neglect (Physical And Emotional)

• A Member of the Household being In Prison

• Growing up in a Household in which there are adults experiencing Alcohol and Drug use problems.

When children are exposed to adverse and stressful experiences, it can have a long-lasting impact on their ability to think, interact with others and on their learning. In addition to causing problems during childhood, adults who experiences ACEs during their childhood often have worse physical and mental health outcomes such as heart disease, cancer, substance misuse and depression.