An adverse childhood experience (ACE) is a traumatic event or situation that occurs during childhood and/or adolescence. ACEs can be a single event, or prolonged threats to, and breaches of, the young person’s safety, security, trust or bodily integrity. Examples of ACEs include physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, neglect, exposure to domestic violence, substance abuse, mental illness, incarceration, or loss of a parent. ACEs can have lasting impacts on the physical and mental health of the person throughout their life.
