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Members of the Philadelphia ACE Task Force (PATF) decided it was time to move from talk to action. After meeting regularly since 2012, the PATFan increasingly diverse group of practitioners in pediatrics, primary care, juvenile justice, early childhood intervention and anti-violence workinvited each member to write down his or her vision for ACEs work in the city. From that batch of cards, three priorities emerged: To educate the wider community about ACEs and their impact. To develop a...

If theres one thing most television lovers and critics have come to agree on in the last few years, its that the medium has become more racially diverse. If challenged by a skeptic on this subject, Id cheerfully rattle off the names of great and popular shows currently on air starring and created by people of color . See? Progress! And yet, maybe not so much. I can count the number of Native American charactersnot even showsthat Ive personally seen on TV in the last year on one hand. Theres...

The U.S. military is struggling to provide adequate therapy sessions for thousands of active-duty troops suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, a massive study released Thursday concludes. The RAND Corp. study of 40,000 cases, the largest ever, found that only a third of troops with PTSD and less than a quarter who are clinically depressed receive the minimum number of therapy sessions after being diagnosed. A RAND review of U.S. military and Department of Veterans...

Leon Sykes has eight children at home, works two jobs, and drives for Uber and Lyft on the side. Yet the 34-year-old father has found time to take classes Monday through Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. to earn his high-school credentials at Academy of Hope, an adult public charter school in Washington, D.C. Sykes is about two years into the program. His wife usually picks up their children, ages 5 to 15, from after-school activities, but he still cant always make it to class. Some days, you just...

A quiet, but alarming, trend is happening in Cambodian "orphanages." Instead of predominantly serving the needs of children whose parents have died, these institutions are increasingly being filled with children from poor families whose living parents are seeking better opportunities for their children's future. It's a phenomenon that my colleagues and I at Columbia's Mailman School of Public Health , together with a number of committed partners, are working to correct. There's a long...

Midlander David Gutierrez certainly has a story to tell. He grew up in a gang-infested neighborhood in the greater Los Angeles area, his mother was an alcoholic, his dad wasnt around. His brother was in and out of prison and his sister was a drug addict. He started drinking and doing drugs at age 12, was addicted to meth and marijuana by 14 and arrested by age 15. Now 36, he is three years sober and a substance abuse counselor for troubled teens at Palmer Drug Abuse Program (PDAP). About...

"Although Amy Winehouses voice was indisputably unique, there was really nothing unusual about her addiction," writes the popular TV personality. The Oscar-nominated documentary Amy takes an honest look at an incredible singing talent who was also suffering from a common chronic disease. Although Amy Winehouses voice was indisputably unique, there was really nothing unusual about her addiction. Like so many other addicts living in the glare of celebrity, Amy needed to be treated like...

After being physically and sexually abused from infancy into her teenage years, Mary doesn't want a doctor to touch her unless it's absolutely necessary. So going to appointments, where male nurses or physical exams are often emotional triggers, can be difficult. "It's very rare to come across a health care provider that is informed in trauma at all, or that is aware in how to deal with patients that have gone through trauma," said Mary, a 36-year-old Neenah woman who is using a false name...

When humans experience trauma, they feel as if their life is threatened; there may be an element of horror and shock, helplessness ensues. After the event or circumstance, a victim needs to recover from feeling vulnerable and out of control of the environment. One way we do this is to engage in self-blame: “it was my fault”.

As one who has been advocating for change in addressing childhood trauma for many years now, I have learned that change is extremely difficult for most people. There needs to be a reason for it. When Dr. Felitti was in Juneau last week, his planned testimony before the House Health & Social Services Committee was cancelled. The Legislative leadership mandated no hearings could be held unless they dealt with the state budget deficit. It was odd because what Dr. Felitti has to say is of...

This morning, the Duchess of Cambridge is taking on a new high profile role as a guest editor of Huffington Post UK, transforming one of Kensington Palaces rooms into a makeshift newsroom. We know there is no shame in a young child struggling with their emotions or suffering from a mental illness," the Duchess wrote as she called for the end of the "taboo" surrounding mental illness. Duchess Kate Champions Mental Health in New PSA Duchess Kate Celebrates 34th Birthday Prince William , 33,...

[Photo by Jake Bellucci ] The militarys health program falls significantly short in providing mental health care to active service members, according to a RAND Corp. study published Thursday. The study focuses on post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, the two most common mental health conditions experienced in the armed services. It finds some good news: The Military Health Services which is operated by the U.S. Department of Defense and provides care to active soldiers is effective...