Health services reluctant to ask about childhood trauma, study finds

Health workers are reluctant to routinely ask young people who access their services if they have been affected by adverse childhood experiences such as abuse or exploitation, a pilot study has found. The pilot involved a child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS), a drug and alcohol support team and a sexual violence support service in the north-west of England being asked to use the Routine Enquiry about Adversity in Childhood programme. This involves routinely asking clients about any adverse childhood experiences, and for the pilot was carried out via a guide the Department of Health and Social Care asked Lancashire Care Foundation Trust to develop. But during the pilot many health professionals taking part were reluctant to raise the issue with clients as a matter of routine. A key factor cited was a lack of resources to provide specialist support if a traumatic experience was revealed. Read more.