Intersection of Suicide, Overdose, and Adverse Childhood Experiences

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The intersection of suicide, overdose, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is an exceedingly critical area in the field of public health. The relationship between these three issues is complex, as they share overlapping risk and protective factors and can lead to harmful social and behavioral health outcomes.

AC Es Overdose Suicide infographic v3

Such outcomes can affect the mental, physical, and emotional health of individuals, families, and communities across generations. The development and implementation of comprehensive strategies that aim to reduce risk factors and enhance protective factors may help prevent and mitigate future harms.


This webpage will serve as a resource hub on this issue, providing information, resources, and tools for local health departments seeking to build their capacity to address these converging epidemics within their own communities.

Community Health

Developing Partnerships in Rural Communities

At the Intersection of Suicide Prevention, Overdose, and Adverse Childhood Experiences

Community Health

Developing Partnerships in Rural Communities

Community Health

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Questionnaire Use

Cautions & Recommendations for Local Health Departments

Community Health

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Questionnaire Use

Community Health

Addressing the Intersection

Guidance for Adapting Community-Led Suicide Prevention for Local Health Departments

Community Health

Addressing the Intersection

Take the Assessment

SPACECAT Tool

If you haven't already, assess the capacity of your local health department to prevent suicide, overdose, and ACEs.

Take the Assessment

SPACECAT Tool

Community Health

What Is the Capacity of Local Health Departments?

This national fielding report summarizes local health departments’ capacities to address suicide, overdose, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)

Community Health

What Is the Capacity of Local Health Departments?

Community Health

Issue Brief

Learn more about the intersection of suicide, overdose, and adverse childhood experiences, in this new NACCHO issue brief

Community Health

Issue Brief

SPACECAT Quick Start Guide

The guide provides a step-by-step process to guide the development of an action plan to increase capacity to prevent suicide, overdose, and ACEs

SPACECAT Quick Start Guide

Community Health

Suicide, Overdose, and Adverse Childhood Experiences Toolkit

This toolkit aims to help LHDs translate data from their SPACECAT results into public health action.

Community Health

Suicide, Overdose, and Adverse Childhood Experiences Toolkit

NACCHO is collecting resources to help LHDs develop their capacity in those areas identified by the results of the SPACECAT tool.

These tools and resources are mapped to the domains within the SPACECAT Tool and are divided into two categories: Infrastructure Capacity and Topical Capacity.

Additional information overviewing these topic areas can be found through the CDC’s Injury Center:

For any requests to submit materials that support for LHDs and their partners, please contact us at [email protected].

This collection of tools and resources helps LHDs develop their knowledge and ability to implement evidence-based prevention strategies for suicide, overdose, and ACEs.

    Community Health

    Health Disparities

    Health disparities are differences in health outcomes that are linked to inequities in social, economic, or environmental conditions.

    Community Health

    Health Disparities

    Community Health

    Workforce Capacity

    Support education and training of health department staff and other stakeholders to prevent suicide, overdose, and ACEs.

    Community Health

    Workforce Capacity

    Community Health

    Shared Planning and Strategic Plans

    LHD's look address the intersection of strategic plan for suicide, overdose, and ACE's prevention and a shared plan for implementation.

    Community Health

    Shared Planning and Strategic Plans

    Public Health Programs

    Caroline Snyder

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    References

    1. United States, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. (n.d.). Urgent, Related, Preventable: Adverse Childhood Experiences, Overdose, and Suicide. Retrieved 2021, from https://www.asam.org/docs/defa...

    2. Merrick MT, Ford DC, Ports KA, et al. Vital Signs: Estimated Proportion of Adult Health Problems Attributable to Adverse Childhood Experiences and Implications for Prevention — 25 States, 2015–2017. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2019;68(44):999-1005. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6844e1

    3. Hedegaard, M.D., H., & Spencer, M.P.H., M. R. (2021, March). NCHS Data Brief: Urban-Rural Differences in Drug Overdose Death Rates, 1999-2019 (Rep. No. 403). Retrieved April, 2021, from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/...

    4. WISQARS (Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System)|Injury Center|CDC. Accessed March 26, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/injury/wis...

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