Free Resources - Learn More About Preventing ACEs​

---

REASONABLE REACTIONS

Events that undermine a child’s sense of safety, stability, and bonding, are linked to negative outcomes later in life.
​
According to one research study, a person with four or more ACEs is 16x more likely to inject street drugs and 11x
more likely to become an alcoholic, in comparison to someone with a score of zero. The result is ACEs
lead to self-destructive behaviors that impact the society as a whole. 

For those of us who have experienced a lot of childhood trauma, our brain developed a pattern to seek safety based on its elementary experiences of the world. Sometimes those elementary experiences prove to be stumbling blocks to healing and growth, so that is why it is important to embrace your story as is.

---

Top 10 ACEs of Trauma

ACE Domestic Violence-

• Children who are exposed to domestic violence are at risk of having low self-esteem and self-worth issues.
• Research also shows that children who are exposed to domestic violence are at a greater risk of engaging in relationships that are abusive, both emotionally and physically. 
• Some children will become adults who are unable to recognize that abusive relationships are unhealthy. 
• Children who are witnesses are at greater risk of adult health problems: obesity, cancer, depression, heart disease, substance abuse, tobacco use, and unintended pregnancies 
• 1 in 15 children are exposed to intimate partner violence each year, and 90% of these children are eyewitnesses to this violence (ncadv.org)   

freeyourmindcic on TikTok
Know Abuse on TikTok
Anita Ladhani, LCSW on TikTok

Sexual Abuse- (nctsn.org, aacap.org)

• Some victims may show behavior/emotion changes, some may not show these changes
  • It is important to teach children about body safety and healthy body boundaries
• Abusers assault victims of all genders, races, ages, social classes and ethnicities 
• Children may show reactions such as: increase in nightmares and/or other sleeping difficulties, angry outbursts, not wanting to be left alone with a particular individual(s), sexual knowledge, language, and/or behaviors that are inappropriate for the child’s age, refusal to go to school, statements that their bodies are dirty/damaged
• Research shows that children can develop depression, PTSD, substance abuse, and suicidal behaviors later in life
• About 1 in every 4 girls and 1 in every 13 boys will experience sexual abuse at some time in their childhood 

https://youtu.be/ZDPpyVVCbm4 

Physical Abuse- (nctsn.org)

• One of the most common forms of child maltreatment 
• Children may struggle developing and maintaining friendships, don’t trust authority figures, may become aggressive, may fail to react to other dangers, anxious and fearful, PTSD
• Children ages 4-7 and 12-15 are at the greatest risk of being physically abused. Very young children are most vulnerable to receiving serious injuries 
• In 2007, approximately 149,000 cases of child physical abuse were reported in all of the 50 states, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
• Research shows that children can have awkward movements/difficulty walking, explanations that do not fit the injuries, regular absence from or lateness to school without credible reason 

Emotional Abuse- (child crime and prevention and safety center;americanspcc.org)

• Children can experience anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, attachment problems, substance abuse, PTSD and suicide and as an adult can develop cancer.
• After emotional abuse, children can lose basic social and language skills for intimate relationships; could also become developmentally delayed, socially limited, and possibly antisocial or chronically unable to protect themselves from others.
• Children conform rigidly to instructions of teachers, doctors, and other adults; suffer from sleep, speech, or eating disorders’ whining, picking at scabs, repetitive rhythmic movements, rocking.
• 39,652 children (6.1%) are emotionally abused 

Physical Neglect- (childwelfare.gov;americanspcc.org)

• Can happen at any point in a child's development but is often associated in early childhood.
• Children who have been physically neglected are dirty and have severe body odor; not have appropriate clothing for weather; may abuse alcohol or other drugs
• Children can become withdrawn, isolated; they are increase risk for diabetes, poor lung function, and vision and oral health problems
• According to research 470,297 victims (74.9%) are neglected 

Emotional Neglect- (americanspcc.org; choosingtherapy.com)

• As children go into adulthood they can demonstrate low self-esteem, difficulty regulating emotions, lack of language for describing feelings, sabotaging relationships/opportunities in order to avoid rejection 
• Unable to perform normal learned functions such as walking, talking
• Children can show antisocial behavior such as aggression, behavioral disruption, bullying others; can show interest in drugs and vandalism 
• Children can seek out other adults for the attention and affection they are missing 
• Research suggests more than 18% of children suffer from emotional neglect 

Bite sized therapy on TikTok
Hybrid Mama_44 on TikTok

Substance Abuse-(samhsa.gov;addictioncenter.com)

• Data from 2009-2014 shows about 1 in 8 children (8.7 million) aged 17 or younger lived in homes with at least one parent who had substance use disorder
• Children can be victims of abuse and neglect 
• Children may turn to substance use when they’re adults
• Children can become withdrawn, mentally and emotionally unstable, have poor school performance, and develop dysfunctional attachments as adults 

​​Brenda Cameron Ryan on TikTok
Substance Abuse Effects on Children
Divorce-(aacap.org;familymeans.org;legaljobs.io)

• Many children blame themselves for the divorce.
• Children may become more aggressive, uncooperative, withdrawn, in some cases may reject contact with one parent 
• The more distracted children are with divorce the more likely they are not able to focus in school.
• 21% of children are raised without their fathers 
• Between ages 7-14, children experience behavior issues 

​​https://youtu.be/IcNs0BlYif8
https://youtu.be/e2_g8sql8EU?t=63

Family member diagnosed with mental illness-(aacap.org;mhanational.org;online.regiscollege.edu)

• If parent(s) have mental illness then their children have a higher risk for developing mental illness than other children 
• Mental illness is not sufficient to cause problems for a child rather how it affects the parent(s)/relative behavior that can cause risk to the child (keep?)
• Children can become angry, anxious, have fear of what can happen, and blame themselves.
• Approximately 8% of children and teens experience the negative impact of mental illness at home. (Regis college)

https://youtu.be/CTSBGBiqcLI

Relative who has been sent to jail or prison-(nij.ojp.gov)

• According to research, in 2007 African-American and Hispanic children were 7.5 times more likely and 2.3 times more likely than white children to have an incarcerated parent.
• Children are six times more likely to become incarcerated themselves.
• Children are more likely to show antisocial behavior, become more private or withdrawn, shame/embarrassment
• Older children may understand why a family member is incarcerated however a younger child may not understand and require more supervision. 

https://www.newsy.com/stories/mass-incarceration-of-parents-affects-kids-health/?jwsource=cl
(video in the website)

---

Crisis & Emergency Resources

Open Path Collective. Open Path Psychotherapy Collective is a non-profit nationwide network of mental health professionals dedicated to providing in-office and online mental health care—at a steeply reduced rate—to individuals, couples, children, and families in need. You can reach them at info@openpathcollective.org
 
Being Seen.If you’re planning to use your health insurance to access psychotherapy, or if you can afford current market rates out of pocket, Being Seen can connect you with a therapist who accepts insurance-based or full-fee clients. https://beingseen.org
 
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. If you or someone you know is in crisis—whether they are considering suicide or not—call the toll-free Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) so you can speak directly to a trained crisis counselor. Calls are free, confidential, and available 24/7.
 
Crisis Text Line. Text HOME to 741741. The Crisis Text Line offers free, 24/7, confidential support to people in crisis. (If you live in Canada, text HOME to 686868.)
 
The Trevor Project supports LGBTQ people under age 25 with 24/7 access to trained crisis support. Call 1-866-488-7386 or Text “Start” to 678678.
 
Trans Lifeline is a trans-led organization that connects trans people to the community, support and resources they need to survive and thrive. Trans Lifeline’s peer support hotline is run by and for trans people. They’re available 7am-1am PST / 9am-3am CST / 10am-4am EST at 877-565-8860
 
Call 911. If you, or a loved one is experiencing a mental health emergency and feel at risk of hurting yourself or someone else, it may be necessary to call 911 and notify the operator that it is a psychiatric emergency. Ask for an officer trained in crisis intervention, or in psychiatric emergencies.
 
National Domestic Violence Hotline. Call 800-799-SAFE (7233) or chat online. Trained expert advocates are available 24/7 to provide confidential support to anyone experiencing domestic