Macon Mental Health Matters has unveiled the results of its inaugural Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) survey, highlighting significant concerns regarding adolescent mental health in the region.
The survey, conducted to assess childhood trauma levels, revealed that Macon-Bibb County scored 4.07 on a scale of 10. This score indicates that some areas within the county are experiencing high levels of childhood trauma, with 10 representing the highest level of trauma.
Adults who score 4 or higher on the ACE scale are more likely to face challenges such as depression, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts, according to the survey’s findings.
Since its launch last month, the survey has gathered responses from over 100 participants. It comprised ten questions covering various forms of adverse childhood experiences, including both direct and indirect violence such as abuse and neglect. The survey drew input from 21 different zip codes, with particularly high scores reported in the 31204, 31201, and 31210 areas.
In addition to childhood trauma, the survey highlighted community concerns about education quality, economic stability, and access to healthcare.
Christele Parham and Andrea Cooke, directors at Macon Mental Health Matters, reported that respondents were connected with resources upon completing the survey. The organization plans to implement targeted programs and resources in the most affected areas.
“We’re providing this information to benefit the entire community,” Cooke said. “Our goal is to inform other agencies’ efforts to address trauma from a comprehensive perspective.”
Macon Mental Health Matters aims to expand its programs based on the survey results.
“With this initiative, we can address the needs identified in the ACE survey and develop targeted programming,” Parham noted. “Next year, we will introduce a project tailored to the feedback from the ACE scores.”
Christy Henry from Family Counseling of Central Georgia participated in a panel discussion on the survey’s results. She expressed surprise at the high score and emphasized the need for trauma-informed care.
“These statistics are quite alarming for our community,” Henry said. “It’s crucial for our agency to be aware of these issues and ensure we meet our clients’ needs.”
Dr. Hanna Cespedes from Pacifica Counseling also reacted to the survey results with surprise.
“I was shocked when I saw the numbers,” Dr. Cespedes said. “Hearing the stories of childhood trauma survivors is one thing, but seeing the actual numbers is profoundly impactful.”
Cooke expressed gratitude for the support from Macon-Bibb and emphasized the organization’s commitment to addressing community trauma.
“We will direct our resources to the neighborhoods most in need,” Cooke said. “Our goal is to make Macon the most mentally healthy city in Georgia.”
