Exploring the Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

 On today’s of the Mental Health Download,  we have three interviews all tied to Adverse Childhood Experiences, better known as ACEs.

Oklahoma's children have the highest ACE scores in the nation. Basically, the questionaire boils down to three categories: Abuse, Neglect and Household dysfunction, including mental illness, substance use and if a loved one has been incarcerated.

To give you some perspective on this issue, we’re talking to three people who played key roles in the Tulsa World newspaper’s phenomenal 8-part series on ACEs. Lucinda Morte is a mental health professional who has a relatively high ACE score herself. Donavon Ramsey is a resilient 19-year-old with a high ACE score and plenty of heartbreaking stories. And, finally, Ashley Parrish, the Tulsa World’s Deputy Managing Editor who oversaw the year-long process to make the Breaking the Cycle series a reality. 

LINKS:

ACEs questionnaire:

 https://www.ncjfcj.org/sites/default/files/Finding%20Your%20ACE%20Score.pdf  

Tulsa World's Breaking the Cycle series:

 https://www.tulsaworld.com/news/state-and-regional/special-report-oklahoma-leads-the-nation-in-childhood-trauma-how/collection_7089b3a4-4b3f-5d9d-987d-58f32653a390.html#1