Young people who experience trauma are significantly more likely to become serious, violent, and chronic juvenile offenders.
Exposure to violence through victimisation, witnessing or even just hearing about violence has been associated with post-traumatic stress and internalising (e.g. anxiety) and externalising (e.g. aggression) in young people [1].
Trauma-informed approaches realise the effects that trauma can have, recognise the signs and symptoms of trauma, and aim to prevent re-traumatisation.
London’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) has committed to employing a public health approach to serious youth violence and has provided funding for various projects that utilise trauma-informed approaches.
It is also working with the NHS to embed youth workers in eight hospital emergency departments and four Major Trauma Centres to support young people affected by violence.
The London Assembly Health Committee will meet tomorrow to consider how trauma-informed approaches are being used across London and the role that the NHS, local authorities and community organisations can play in supporting this.
The guests are:
- Lib Peck, Director, London’s Violence Reduction Unit
- Vicky Hobart, GLA Group Director of Public Health
- Farrah Hart, Public Health Consultant, GLA Group Public Health Unit
- Martin Griffiths, National Clinical Director for Violence Reduction, NHS England
- Keith Cohen, Head of Youth Justice Service, London Borough of Lewisham
- Aidan Phillips, Trauma-informed Communities Project Manager, WAVE Trust
- Marike van Harskamp, Head of Policy, Redthread
- Estelle Moore, Consultant Clinical and Forensic Psychologist, Head of Service, Broadmoor Hospital and Director of Psychological Professions, West London NHS Trust
The meeting will take place on Thursday 25 May from 2pm, in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.
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Notes to editors
- Department of Health and Social Care, A Public Health approach to violence prevention in England, November 2012
- Full agenda papers.
- Dr Onkar Sahota AM, Chair of the Health Committee, is available for interview.
- Find out more about the work of the Health Committee.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For more details, please contact Emma Bowden in the Assembly Media Office on 07849 303897. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.