Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a set of 10 traumatic events or circumstances occurring before the age of 18 that have been shown through research to increase the risk of adult mental health problems and debilitating diseases. Understanding of the impact that childhood traumatic events have on adult life outcomes has led to health and care agencies developing a questionnaire to assess the level of ACEs experienced by children and young people.
Information gathered through the questionnaire is used by clinicians and family support agencies to identify children and families experiencing adversity and offer help.
The adoption of the ACE framework has led to some states in the US developing widespread screening programmes in an effort to provide earlier interventions, while in the UK, the Welsh and Scottish governments have developed national strategies for tackling ACEs.
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