September 2022 Newsletter

In recognition of Suicide Prevention Month, we are sharing information and a variety of resources about the link between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the risk of suicide. As outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), experiencing ACEs can create a physiological response that increases the risk of chronic disease, opioid misuse, suicide, and other injuries. Not only are ACEs associated with an increased risk of attempting suicide, but the odds of ever attempting suicide are 30 times higher for adults with four or more ACEs than adults with no ACEs.

New and Noteworthy

Governor Newsom Appoints Dr. Diana Ramos as California Surgeon General 

Governor Gavin Newsom announced, on August 25, 2022, the appointment of accomplished public health leader Dr. Diana Ramos as California Surgeon General. Dr. Ramos has more than three decades of cross-cutting experience and expertise with a focus on health equity and reproductive health. She currently serves at the California Department of Public Health’s Center for Healthy Communities, where she oversees the state’s public health and prevention programs. Dr. Ramos officially assumed the office on September 1. 

UCAAN: Anchoring ACEs Aware at the University of California

Join us on Tuesday, September 27, from 12 - 1 p.m., for an ACEs Aware webinar, and meet the leaders of the UCLA-UCSF ACEs Aware Family Resilience Network (UCAAN), a multi-campus University of California (UC) initiative that implements ACEs Aware on behalf of the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). The presenters will be UCAAN CEO Emily Williams, Co-Principal Investigators, Drs. Shannon Thyne and Eddy Machtinger, and Senior Director of Clinical and Academic Programs, Health Equity, Dr. Mikah Owen.

The webinar will be recorded and posted on the ACEs Aware website. Registration is required.

Network of Care (Round 2) Planning Grant Report

The Network of Care Round 2 report is focused on the 26 Network of Care Planning grants designed to support communities whose Medi-Cal providers were in the early stages of screening for ACEs and contemplating approaches for coordinating across clinics, community-based organizations, and social services agencies. This report outlines areas where Network of Care Planning grantees achieved success and where challenges emerged.

Watch and Share the ACEs Aware Storytelling Videos

The unique videos included in the ACEs Aware Storytelling Series expand the reach and impact of ACEs Aware by connecting with Californians, encouraging providers and care teams to take the “Becoming ACEs Aware in California” online training, and sharing best practices and experiences to help others integrate ACE screening into their practices.

We hope you enjoy viewing and sharing all four videos, which are accessible on the ACEs Aware website.

New 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number has

transitioned to an easy-to-remember three-digit number (988).

Anyone can call or text 988 or chat at  

988lifeline.org to receive support when experiencing a

suicidal, mental health, and/or substance use crisis.

Events, Resources, and Research

EVENTS

Upcoming Webinar: Policy Approaches to Preventing Suicide Among Health Professionals & First Responders

September 8, 2022 | 12pm PT | American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Learn about federal and state policy initiatives that aim to provide vital suicide prevention and mental health services for the nation's health professionals and first responders.

Register →

Upcoming Virtual Symposium: Adapting and Thriving in the New Era of Healthcare

September 22, 2022 | 8:30am - 3:30pm | Community Health Association Inland Southern Region

Register →

Upcoming Webinar: UCAAN: Anchoring ACEs Aware at the University of California

September 27, 2022 | 12pm - 1pm PT | UCLA/UCSF ACEs Aware Family Resilience Network

Meet the leaders of UCAAN, a multi-campus UC initiative that implements ACEs Aware on behalf of DHCS.

Register →

RESOURCES

National Suicide Prevention Week Awareness Resources

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Gathered by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, these resources will help build awareness around real stories and events supporting suicide prevention in your area.

Access →

Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Primary Care Practices

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/SAMHSA

Part of the Suicide Prevention Resource Center funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), this toolkit focuses on engaging providers to advance their knowledge of treating suicidal patients in a primary care setting.

Access →

SPACECAT (Suicide, Overdose, and Adverse Childhood Experiences Prevention Capacity Assessment Tool)

ASTHO, CDC, and NACCHO

Developed with the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), CDC, and National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), this tool will help local, state, and territorial health agencies better understand their capacity to address suicide, overdose, and ACEs.

Access →

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Suicide Prevention Rapid Response Training & Technical Assistance Tools

The Prevention Institute

Through a cooperative agreement with the CDC, the Prevention Institute has partnered with the National League of Cities and UC San Francisco to offer training and tools to local government and their partners in supporting their communities.

Access →

SAMHSA Mental Health Facilities Locator

Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality

The Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator, from SAMHSA's Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ), is an online source of information for persons seeking treatment facilities in the United States or U.S. Territories for substance use, addiction, and/or mental health problems.

Access →

California Strategic Plan on Suicide Prevention - Every Californian is Part of the Solution

California Department of Mental Health

Coordinated by the former California Department of Mental Health and its Suicide Prevention Plan Advisory Committee, the California Strategic Plan on Suicide Prevention serves as a blueprint for action at the local and state levels. To effectively reduce suicides and suicidal behavior, communities need prevention services and a coordinated system of services to effectively respond to crisis situations.

Access →

RESEARCH

Social-ecological theory, substance misuse, adverse childhood experiences, and adolescent suicidal ideation: Applications for community–academic partnerships

May 2021 | Journal of Community Psychology

Read →

Evaluating the association of adverse childhood experiences, mood and anxiety disorders, and suicidal ideation among behavioral health patients at a large federally qualified health center

July 2021 | PLOS ONE

Read →

Adverse childhood experiences and suicide risk: toward comprehensive prevention

September 2017 | American Journal of Preventive Medicine

Read →

By implementing ACE screening in your practice, your clinical team

can play a key role in mitigating the impacts of toxic stress.

Take the Becoming ACEs Aware in California training today to get started.

Already completed the training and ready to screen? Visit the

ACE Screening How-To Implementation Guide on the ACEs Aware website.

“The wound is the place where the light enters you.”

– Rumi

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