ACES Flashcards
What is an Adverse Childhood Experience
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are stressful or traumatic experiences that can have a huge impact on children and young people throughout their lives.
What types of ACEs are there
Abuse: physical, sexual, verbal. Neglect: emotional and physical. Growing up in a household where: there are adults with alcohol and drug use problems, there are adults with mental health problems, there is domestic violence, there are adults who have spent time in prison or parents have separated.
The impact on a persons mental health that experiences 4+ ACEs
The impact of this exposure to trauma is that people with 4+ ACEs are more likely to engage in high risk behaviour such as drinking to excess and taking drugs - leading to the health issues associated with this.
Evidence also shows what?
However, the evidence also shows that even if a person doesn’t engage in high risk behaviour like smoking and drinking, they are still more likely to develop heart disease and cancer.
What does toxic stress affect/damage
Toxic stress can affect the area of the brain which controls pleasure and reward so can lead to dependence on substances.
toxic stress can damage a developing immune system and cause it to not work as well.
What is toxic stress
toxic stress’ can occur when a child experiences strong, frequent, and/or prolonged adversity—such as physical or emotional abuse, chronic neglect, caregiver substance abuse or mental illness, exposure to violence, and/or the accumulated burdens of family economic hardship—without adequate adult support.
What has research from the USA found
Research from the USA found that people who reported experiencing four or more ACES are 2.5 times more likely to have CHD, 4.5 times more likely to have depression, 3 times more likely to have lung cancer and 12 times more likely to take their own life.
