A negative experience as a child can have a big impact on a person\u2019s health, and the Juneau Suicide Prevention Coalition wants to begin figuring how those experiences are affecting the people of Juneau \u2014 and spreading the word about the link in the first place.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ACEs study seems to be well-known within specific communities (like behavioral health) but broadly, in the community, it\u2019s not well known,\u201d said Hilary Young, Suicide Prevention Program Coordinator for Juneau Youth Services and JSPC.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s in spite of the fact that many people in Alaska, and in Juneau, have had the experiences \u2014 sexual, physical or emotional abuse, neglect, a jailed family member \u2014 that can lead to difficulties later in life.<\/p>\n
ACEs stands for \u201cAdverse Childhood Experiences.\u201d In the 1980s, researcher Dr. Vincent Felitti noticed a link between sexual abuse and obesity. He and Dr. Robert Anda were the first to begin researching the link between traumatic childhood experiences and mental and physical health later in life. The two narrowed down the inquiry to ten basic yes or no questions about trauma a person might experience before the age of 18. The survey takes less than two minutes to complete.<\/p>\n
Many people may not have even spoken about negative experiences they had early on in life \u2014 but healing can start even just with the survey, said coalition member and retired state health planner and epidemiologist Alice Rarig.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe find that just bringing it up, just showing that you care whether (a person has had) these experiences begins the recovery process,\u201d Rarig said. \u201cIt helps people to acknowledge what they\u2019ve been through. Sometimes they\u2019ve never acknowledged it at all.\u201d<\/p>\n
The questions, Rarig said, \u201chelp people understand themselves and people around them, and to be more aware of what people may be going through.\u201d<\/p>\n
The coalition already uses data from other surveys, like the annual Youth Risk Behavior Survey and Alaska\u2019s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Rarig said. Those surveys make it clear how bullying and other forms of trauma can \u201creally elevate the risk of a young person having mental health problems, substance abuse problems, suicidal thoughts.\u201d<\/p>\n
In February, Sealaska Heritage Institute brought Felitti to town. A conversation with him was the impetus for the coalition offering the survey in Juneau.<\/p>\n
The survey won\u2019t be a statistical sample, Rarig said, but more a starting place. And it\u2019ll be discussed at JSPC\u2019s free upcoming conference, \u201cAdverse Childhood Experiences: Learn, Change, Prevent,\u201d scheduled for June 2-3.<\/p>\n
The conference is co-sponsored by the University of Alaska Southeast, where it\u2019ll be hosted, and the State of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services Division of Behavioral Health, which is a big funder for the coalition. The conference also offers free CEUs (continuing education units) and CMEs (continuing medical education.)<\/p>\n
It focuses on, among other things, historical and intergenerational trauma, specifically within the Alaska Native community; schools, primary care, and how trauma can impact communities as a whole.<\/p>\n
One of the coauthors of the ACEs study, Dr. Rob Anda, will also present at the conference.<\/p>\n
Registration began May 10. Around 175 people attended last year\u2019s conference, Young said; this year\u2019s is capped at 200.<\/p>\n
Anyone can take the survey at https:\/\/www.research.net\/r\/JuneauACES. It\u2019s anonymous, though they do ask for a person\u2019s sex and age range (they\u2019d like to get a range of people representative of the community.) It\u2019ll be available until the end of May, Young said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf people can talk about and know about these things (sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect, and experiences the survey asks about)\u2026 they might be more inclined to ask someone if they are thinking about suicide, and reach out, and get help,\u201d Young said. \u201cIt can help prevent more hurt. It\u2019s kind of everyone\u2019s responsibility to keep people safe and kind of check in on how they\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The JSPC\u2019s websites have more information about the conference and are a helpful resource for those having suicidal thoughts or going through other difficulties. They are juneausuicideprevention.org and juneaumentalhealth.org.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Contact Capital City Weekly managing editor Mary Catharine Martin at maryc.martin@capweek.com.<\/p>\n
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