ACES - Adverse Childhood Experiences

Almost half of children and young people living in the UK have experienced one or more forms of adversity.

ACEs can impact a child’s development, their relationships with others, and increase the risk of engaging in health-harming behaviours. Young people who have experienced ACEs are at increased risk of experiencing poorer mental and physical health outcomes in adulthood.

Supporting a young person who has experienced trauma does not necessarily mean you have to talk about the trauma. Recognising that all children may have experienced trauma and ACEs can help practitioners to adopt a more empathic approach to their work and help young people to feel more understood, developing healthier relationships and promoting engagement.

Helping a young person to build positive healthy friendships, experience new things and gain a sense of achievement all can help reduce any long-term impact of trauma on a young person’s mental health.