Emma Adams

Trauma during homelessness and its impact on mental health: reflecting on findings from an international systematic review and qualitative study in North East England

Trauma often occurs before, and as a result of homelessness. Efforts to create trauma-informed health, social and housing services are underway globally. Trauma, if unaddressed, can lead to poor mental health and substance use. Although the importance of trauma during childhood is well-established, less is known about trauma during homelessness. To address this, Emma Adams has been leading a programme of qualitative work looking to better understand trauma during homelessness and its impact on mental health. This has been possible through working collaboratively with people with lived experience of homelessness as core members of the research team. In this seminar, Emma will draw on the findings from across the ongoing work, including an international systematic review and qualitative study in an urban setting and two seaside towns in North East England. She will share learnings on trauma during homelessness and how it shapes subsequent experiences of homelessness and mental health.

Emma Adams is a NIHR Doctoral Fellow at Newcastle University.