Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
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Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): Latest Research, Child Mental Health Insights & Trauma-Informed Interventions
This issue of the ACAMH ACEs SIG Newsletter highlights the latest research on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), exploring their impact on mental and physical health across the lifespan. It also showcases emerging evidence on resilience, attachment, trauma-informed care, and interventions that can help prevent and mitigate the effects of childhood adversity.
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Annual Review of ACEs research
It is now over 20 years since the publication of the seminal research by Fellitti and colleagues (Fellitti et al 1998) ‘The Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults: The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study.’
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Meet the expert on mentalising – Dr. Emma Morris
Discover how mentalising therapy supports children and families facing complex trauma. Join Emma Morris at the ACAMH workshop on 14 October 2026.
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Beyond ACEs: When Trauma-Informed Care Misses Neurodivergent Children
Trauma-informed care often overlooks neurodivergence, leading to missed diagnoses and support, as in James’ story. Research shows trauma, neurodevelopmental conditions and adversity frequently co-occur, with “double jeopardy” when both are present. Services must move beyond silos to holistic, person-centred assessment that recognises each child’s unique “make and model.”. Blog by Professor Helen Minnis (pic) and Dr. Ruchika Gajwani.
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Families and Children in Wartime Ukraine: Prelude to an Online Course on Families in Context of War and Social Conflict Through the Lens of Attachment
For practitioners and policymakers, it is important to realise that the extraordinarily high levels of parental burnout signal serious mental health challenges ahead, even well beyond the end of the war.
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Dr. Katie McLaughlin
Dr. Katie McLaughlin is a clinical psychologist with expertise in child and adolescent mental health and the Executive Director of the Ballmer Institute for Children’s Behavioral Health and Knight Chair and Professor of Psychology at the University of Oregon. She has a joint Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and Epidemiology from Yale University.
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Adverse childhood experiences: what support do young people need?
Recent research funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) identifies the types of support young people feel they need from services, and offers ways to support the mental health of children in care and those adopted from care.
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Refugee Week 2022; Encouraging Inclusivity, Resilience, and the Right to be Safe
This Refugee Week (20 – 26 June), we encourage you to explore the learning opportunities available on our website, and to share with your networks. We have gathered a range of FREE learning resources from leading academics, clinicians, and researchers to raise awareness this Refugee Week.
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Understanding Early Trauma: The case for supporting parent-infant relationships
Understanding of adverse childhood experiences has grown in recent years. We now know more about how external circumstances cause psychological trauma in some children. When we understand early trauma – and the importance of early relationships – we are better able to prevent, and respond to, children’s mental health problems. [Please note that this is an external blog and may not reflect the views of ACAMH]
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ACEs eNewsletters
We’ll be bringing you the latest news on ACEs, and then discussing these in the ACES SIG Forum, so do please register to use the ACEs Forum.
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