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An original story for MIT, published December 6, 2019. Having trouble paying attention? MIT neuroscientists may have a solution for you: Turn down your alpha brain waves. In a new study, the researchers found that people can enhance their attention by controlling their own alpha brain waves based on neurofeedback they receive as they perform a particular task. The study found that when subjects learned to suppress alpha waves in one hemisphere of their parietal cortex, they were able to pay...

Please welcome these three new communities from South Carolina and Washington to ACEs Connection . More information about each one of them is below. Resilient Benton-Franklin (WA): Serving the Benton and Franklin area, we are strongly committed to serving as a network for community members across various sectors to collaborate in preventing and addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). We aim towards creating a resilient and trauma-aware community. Community Manager: @Carla Prock Risk...

Join the Family Trauma Institute for a free webinar this Wednesday, December 11, 2020, at 1 pm ET. Participants will learn how to use the FST | Family Systems Trauma Red Flags Checklist to prevent relapse.

By Andrea Petersen, The New York Times, December 8, 2019 Anne Firmender, 74, was working with her psychologist to come up with a list of her positive attributes. “I cook for others,” said Ms. Firmender. “It’s giving,” encouraged the psychologist, Dimitris Kiosses. “Good kids,” continued Ms. Firmender, who has four grown children and four grandchildren. “And great mother,” added Dr. Kiosses. Ms. Firmender smiled. [ Please click here to read more .]

By Annika Abbott, Public Broadcasting Service, December 6, 2019 Farmworkers face major challenges when it comes to staying healthy. They often spend hours daily performing physical labor that taxes the body, while language barriers and lack of employer-paid health insurance complicate their access to care. But the Southeast Arizona Area Health Education Center is working on a unique way to improve health care for these workers. Anikka Abbott has the story. Judy Woodruff: Finally: Farm...

By Stephanie Stephens, Kaiser Health News, December 9, 2019 A lonely and anxious Rebecca Massie first called the Mental Health Association of San Francisco “warmline” during the 2015 winter holidays. “It was a wonderful call,” said Massie, now 38 and a mental health advocate. “I was laughing by the end, and I got in the holiday spirit.” Massie, a San Francisco resident, later used the line multiple times when she needed additional support, then began to volunteer there. [ Please click here...

By Shawne K. Wickham, New Hampshire Union Leader, December 8, 2019 Veterans, individuals with physical or developmental disabilities, families who have experienced trauma, and youngsters with autism have all found healing and acceptance in the gentle, good horses of UpReach Therapeutic Equestrian Center. The center’s motto is: “Improving lives with the power of the horse.” “It’s more than just a pony ride,” says Karen Kersting, who left a successful career in banking 21 years ago to become...

Receiving appropriate mental health care is crucial to healing. However, an enormous number of American citizens cannot and do not receive the care they need because there simply are no providers in their region to turn to in times of crisis. In this piece, we shall examine the statistics and costs both monetary and personal of the lack of mental health professionals in rural America as compared to living in or near a major city.

Children deserve to believe in a tomorrow. Children deserve to believe in love. Children deserve to believe in magic. Children deserve to believe in dreams. Children deserve to believe in joy. These are their human rights and our responsibility.

Alcohol is one of the most used substances in the country. In fact, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention , about 25% of adults 18 and older had at least one heavy drinking day in the past year. Unfortunately, this type of substance use can lead to a number of different problems for those who have problems with alcohol. One of the most affected areas of the body when it comes to alcohol is the liver. There were nearly 22,250 alcohol liver disease deaths in 2017. Alcohol...

By Ayanna Pressley , Monique W. Morris Published on Saturday, December 07, 2019 by Boston Globe Photo Credit: First-grader Khatona Miller, right, investigates a circled location on a world globe with other classmates August 22, 2000 at Chicago's Stewart Elementary School. (Photo: Tim Boyle/Newsmakers) The policies and unfair practices that disproportionately push girls of color from institutions of learning stem from deeply entrenched biases that require bold, community-based solutions to...

By Harry Burns, The Scotsman, December 4, 2019 Reducing the number of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) would be a better way to make society happier, safer and wealthier than building prisons, writes Professor Harry Burns. According to one newspaper, Boris Johnson’s response to the dreadful stabbings in London last Friday was a vow to lock up terrorists and throw away the key. The families of both victims have spoken about how dedicated Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones were to the idea of...