Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are stressful or traumatic events outside of the child’s control whose negative effects can be long lasting and severe. ACEs include such things as physical and emotional abuse and neglect, sexual abuse, violence, substance misuse or mental illness in the household, parental separation, and death or incarceration of a household member. But ACEs also include more subtle and prevalent adverse experiences including economic hardship and discrimination.
In terms of ACEs and mental health, the public health impact of childhood adversity is evident in the very strong association between childhood adversity and depressive symptoms, antisocial behavior, and drug use during the early transition to adulthood. These findings, coupled with evidence that the impact of major childhood adversities persists well into adulthood, indicate the critical need for prevention and intervention strategies targeting early adverse experiences and their mental health consequences.