Report Calls for Action on Mental Health in Omaha
Nearly two-thirds of adults in the Omaha metropolitan area went through at least one adverse childhood experience, according to a recent report by area health departments.
The study – organized by the Douglas, Sarpy/Cass and Pottawattamie health agencies in partnership with The Wellbeing Partners – found that such adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, are incredibly common.
“The good news is that ACEs can be prevented,” the report says. “Identifying risk factors and building protective factors for families are key components of how communities can begin to address the long-term health impacts of ACEs. Breaking the cycle during early childhood, as well as during youth/adolescence, and understanding the impact of childhood trauma are key first steps that can be taken.”
More than 1 in 10 of adults had four or more ACEs, which are defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as “potentially traumatic events” between birth and 17 years, experiencing violence, abuse or neglect; witnessing violence in the home or community; or having a family member attempt or die by suicide.
Identifying ACEs helps mental health professionals understand the scope of childhood trauma in a community, which can have a variety of adverse impacts on physical and mental health.
The report found the more than one-thirds of metro area adults experienced emotional abuse as a child, and more than a quarter were or are living with substance abuse in the household. About 18% said they experienced physical abuse as a child, and about 13% were victims of sexual abuse, according to the report.
According to the CDC, ACEs are linked to chronic health problems as well as mental illness and substance abuse in adulthood. ACEs have also been known to negatively affect education and job opportunities.
Preventing ACEs can lower risk for conditions like depression, asthma, cancer and diabetes in adulthood. It can also reduce risky behaviors like smoking and heavy drinking, according to the CDC. Targeting ACEs can also help break cycles of trauma passed along generations.
In the metro area, adults age 18 to 44 were more likely to have experienced a high number of traumas – defined as four or more ACEs, according to the report. High ACE scores were found in 23% of Black area residents and 18% of Hispanic residents.
The Douglas County Health Department recently launched a mental health care initiative, the goals of which are to normalize mental health care and expand awareness of treatment options.
“Our entire community has been under extreme stress from the COVID-19 outbreak,” Health Director Dr. Adi Pour said in a news release. “There is no better time to normalize mental health care.”
In addition to the survey of area adults, researchers asked parents to report ACEs among their children.
Over 13% of metro area parents reported that they had been told by a health care provider that their school-age child had anxiety, an increase of more than 3.5% over the 2015 CHA findings. About 8.5% of parents reported that their child had been exposed to violence, either as a victim or a witness, which is more than double the national average.
According to the report, children from across the four metro area counties are experiencing an increase in levels of anxiety and stress. It outlines a community-wide call to action to reduce mental health issues in the community along four priorities: decrease mental health stigma; increase connections to resources; connect people to increased social supports; and reduce traumatic experiences themselves.
To help prevent or even decrease the toxic effects of ACEs, the study recommends “supportive and responsive relationships with caring adults, as early in life as possible.”
The data for this study was collected through the 2018 Community Health Assessment, a report compiled every three years by the health departments of the metro area in order to gauge key health needs and create a Community Health Improvement Plan. The 2018 assessment was the first time ACEs were included in the survey of nearly 3,500 residents.
Find a copy of the report at omahadailyrecord.com.
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