Mental health summit discusses traumatic childhood experiences
By Ashley Luthans
Mental health advocates gathered Friday for a summit on adverse childhood experiences organized by the St. Joseph Health Department.
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic incidents that happen to kids.
The event, held at Missouri Western State University, invited attendees to learn about the impact of ACEs on mental and physical health.Â
Jean West, a social worker at Lafayette High School, has been passionate about this field for the past 10 years. She said ACEs can have long-term effects.
“When children go through difficult experiences at a young age, it has the capability of impacting their medical, mental and behavioral health, even as adults,” West said.
She said the topic is an important one to discuss.
“I think it’s vital that everyone is aware of this information,” West said. “For too long we have worked in silos trying to solve problems and the answer is to come together and to look and see what our children are going through and what can we realistically do as a community to better support our children, as well as their parents towards health and wellness.”
Stephanie Malita, a health educator at the St. Joseph Health Department, said adults need to recognize if they experienced ACEs not only for their benefit but for that of their children.
“What we want to do is get this information out into the hands of ideally parents, so that if, as a parent, you have experienced ACEs, you understand what they are,” Malita said. “You understand the impact that they’ve had on your life and you can help stop that for the next generation.”
Mayor John Josendale attended the event and made a special proclamation announcing Nov. 15 as ACEs and Mental Health Day in St. Joseph.
Malita expressed gratitude for the recognition of ACEs.
“It tells us that those people who have that decision-making power and have influence and impact in our community are coming together and they recognize the need and they are working together to come up with solutions,” Malita said.
More than 350 attendees were at the summit.
