Researchers to help ease burden of childhood trauma
A new research alliance has launched today in Liverpool City Region to help prevent adverse childhood experiences and support people impacted by them. It follows recent findings from LJMU that in Merseyside 49.9% of adults have experienced such experiences as children.(1)
The LCR Adverse Childhood Experiences Research Alliance has been set up by LJMU and the Mental Health Research for Innovation Centre (M-RIC). M-RIC is a partnership of Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Liverpool.
The launch was announced today at a dedicated ACEs conference at LJMU by co-lead and M-RIC Lead Investigator Professor Rhiannon Corcoran, who said: “ACEs are stressful and painful events that occur in childhood such as abuse, neglect or growing up in a household where there is violence, addiction, mental health problems and other issues. They are very common and can have a life-long impact on those of us who experience them. That’s why it’s really important that we improve our understanding of their effects and how best to protect ourselves.
"We need to ensure that we co-ordinate our approach as local organisations who provide services and support. ACEs and their consequences are avoidable if we tackle the societal issues that provoke them.”
The alliance brings together experts in their fields from across the NHS, universities, police, local authorities and voluntary sector bodies. The aim is to conduct research to enable a better understanding of the impact of ACEs and examine how current services could improve support to prevent ACEs and enhance support for those who have been affected.
Fellow LCR ACEs Research Alliance co-lead Professor Zara Quigg is based at the Public Health Institute at LJMU. She added: “We are delighted to have 14 local organisations involved in the LCR ACEs Research Alliance. We have also worked to put the voice of people who have experienced ACEs at the heart of our plans through the involvement of M-RIC service user and carer representatives and public advisors. Our next steps are to work together to develop our research plans and priorities. We hope the outcomes and shared knowledge we gain from our research will help prevent ACEs and support more people to overcome childhood adversity and help them lead happier and healthier lives.”
ends
- Quigg Z et al. (2025). Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) across Merseyside. Nature, prevalence, and associations with health and wellbeing, health risk behaviours, violence, community safety and cohesion. Liverpool: Liverpool John Moores University/Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership
