ACEs and Health

Hi everyone and Happy International Men's Day (IMD) to all the men and boys of the Caribbean. Yes, November 19 is observed as a day to celebrate men and boys, and highlight issues and challenges faced by them. Unlike most dates observed globally, IMD is inextricably linked to the Caribbean in that it's main proponent since 1999 has been a university lecturer at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine campus. Trinidadian Dr. Jerome Teelucksingh has been advocating for the cause of...

Hi again, we hope you are enjoying your week. A research article by Yingying Su and colleagues on adverse childhood experiences published in the National Library of Medicine links childhood maltreatment with mental health challenges such as major depressive episode, generalized anxiety disorder and suicide ideation. From the abstract, the researchers found that both coping strategies and social support mediated the link between childhood maltreatment and the aforementioned mental health...

Happy Friday everyone! We trust the week has been good to you all. As we approach the weekend, there is some research we would like to share with you. It is published by Dylan B. Jackson, PhD et al in the publication of the American Academy of Pediatrics. "Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are prevalent in the population and yield several adverse consequences for child health and development as they accumulate. The objective of the current study is to examine the association between ACEs...

Happy Wellness Wednesday everyone! We hope you are having a great week. With more workplaces seeking to return to pre-COVID 19 operations, a key aspect of transformation needs to be the elimination of toxicity from the work environment. Today, we are all more aware of the importance of mental health and wellness and the reality and detrimental effects of micro aggressions in the workplace. We also know that these challenges can exacerbate a person's pre-existing adverse childhood experiences...

Hi everyone!HHow are you and your loved ones? As businesses reopen from the COVID 19 restrictions, traumatised persons who have lost loved ones and jobs and 2 years of their lives will be gathering together to return to work. In that setting, it will be critical to understand how better to relate to our coworkers, bosses and employees so that everyone on our team enjoys optimal relationships and mental and emotional wellness. Since we spend at least 8 hours per day with one another, we need...

Hi everyone! As we come to the end of the first half of 2022 and the COVID impact appears to be waning in some Caribbean countries, the focus shifts to the need for parents to build personal capacity in order to support their children through the most traumatic period of their young lives. The article linked to below speaks to the need for parents to cultivate emotional intelligence as lockdowns cease and children navigate the return to in-person learning and interaction with their peers.

Hi everyone, this month is full of observed days that are dedicated to the family or specific members of the family. Mother's Day in many countries was observed on May 8, Families Day on May 15 and World Day of The Boy Child on May 16! Observances for the boy child took place in the Americas, India and Africa over the past weekend and some will continue during this week. Themes included encouraging boys to improve their literacy, addressing vulnerability in boys and men, promoting self-worth...

Hi everyone, we have exciting news to share! A Caribbean organisation called Reach Within that operates on the island of Grenada has been awarded the COVID-19 Response Award for its innovative programmes over the past 2 years by Island Innovation , in partnership with the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton Global Initiative . The virtual awards ceremony took place on April 25, 2022. Island Innovation is an official nominating organization for The Earthshot Prize a global prize launched by...

Hi everyone, we are excited to share that a member of ACEs Caribbean Community, Ms. Caron Asgarali, is hosting the third cycle of her amazing "Writing To Heal' sessions starting on Saturday 30th April 2022. Caron has a lot of lived experience healing from personal trauma through writing, is an author of multiple books and an editor who has helped multiple persons embark upon their own journeys and careers as writers. Caron's page on Amazon.com is at the link below.

Hi everyone, it's Monday and we trust you had a relaxing weekend. As we continue to equip you with information about grief and tragic loss, we would like to share this Upworthy.com article with you that recounts an interview by Brené Brown. Psychological researcher Brené Brown shared her thoughts on the grieving process on “TODAY with Hoda & Jenna” recently and they may be of comfort to anyone dealing with loss. “How long does true grief last in the heart?” a fan asked Brown. “As long as...

Hi everyone, we hope you are having a relaxing Saturday. The extent to which ordinary persons have suffered and are suffering loss and grief is staggering, particularly after 2 years of addressing COVID 19. For that reason, we think it is helpful to provide you with resources to help you and equip you to help.oters who may be dealing with tragic loss and grief. In the recent (2021) American Brain Foundation webinar “Healing Your Brain After Loss: A Neurologist’s Perspective,” Lisa M.

Hi everyone, we hope you have started the weekend with rest and refreshing to alleviate the stress of the work week. This coming Thursday there is a free webinar from Justice Clearinghouse that is titled: "Blueprint for Resilience - How to Reverse Engineer Burnout & Compassion Fatigue". As the name implies, its focus will be on helping those in careers that involve engaging with suffering to avoid burnout or compassion fatigue. You will learn how to take responsibility for a healthy...