Dr Emilia Trapasso

Personal Statement

I am currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Public Engagement. This enrichment grant was funded by the Wellcome Trust, working with the University’s flagship birth cohort – Children Growing Up in Liverpool. The aim is to deliver and evaluate additional public engagement activities across the Liverpool City Region, to understand how people perceive health and health inequalities, how data are used to inform policy, and to foster the ownership of the Children Growing Up in Liverpool birth cohort study in the wider community.

I was previously a Research Assistant at The University of Liverpool for the PROMDEP Study, funded by NIHR. I recruited GP Practices onto the PROMDEP study and subsequently recruit participants from these sites. I worked both efficiently and sensitively with participants recently diagnosed with depression, collecting quantitative and qualitative data from participants across a variety of settings in North England. I conducted interviews with patients and GP’s both face to face and remotely, ensuring that all data are recorded accurately and entered into the database in a timely manner. I was responsible for maintaining strong relationships and positive communication channels with participants, GP practices, and colleagues in other research sites. I also liaised with local CRN’s and GP surgeries throughout the trial, and work collaboratively across study centres across England.

I completed my PhD at the University of Liverpool, funded through CLAHRC-NWC, working with the Mersey Forest. My research included mindfulness-based connection to nature as a tool to reduce stress levels and poor mental health for those experiencing health inequalities in areas of socioeconomic deprivation in North West England. Methodology: Systematic review, quantitative cross-sectional survey, novel intervention designed, developed and implemented, mixed methods data collection and analysis. This was a multi-disciplinary research project with several stakeholders, charities and partner organisations. I developed tools to improve health and wellbeing for both mental and physical illnesses, and conducted an MCN intervention for local communities with the aim to improve perceived stress. I designed, implemented and evaluated a health behaviour change intervention, using cross-collaboration with partners from universities, primary care, charities and land trusts.

I am also a trainee health psychologist, completing my stage 2 in health psychology with LJMU.