9–12 September 2026: SERENA research presented at the European Mental Health Conference in Prague

On 9–12 September 2026, Maria Roth from Babeș-Bolyai University, Romania, presented research related to SERENA at the European Mental Health Conference in Prague. The presentation, entitled “Voices of people with lived experience of child maltreatment (PLECM)”, draws on qualitative data collected through the EURO-CAN project and reanalyses these findings according to the objectives of the SERENA project.

SERENA research presented at the conference

The topic of research with PLECM is highly sensitive (Roth, Alfandari, Crous, 2023). Their credibility and objectivity is often doubted, being suspected of possible exaggeration and subjectivity (Danese A, Widom C., 2024). On the other hand they are difficult to reach, due to data protection and institutional paternalistic approaches, which are meant to protect victims’ identity. On the other hand, representatives of organizations of PLECM and international treaties the UN declaration of the Basic Rights of Victims (1985), The Istambul Convention (2017) and The Lanzarote Convention of Europe on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation & Sexual Abuse (2018) underscore the importance of listening to survivors of violence, and validate their experience through the lenses of scientific research.   

The analyzed data were collected in two focus groups conducted in Romania, and in a multinational online survey involving 139 respondents from Romania, Türkiye, Hungary, Italy, Israel and North Macedonia. The questions focused on participants’ experiences with child protection services and societal responses to childhood victimisation, as well as the expectations from research.

The findings highlight how survivors often felt powerless and misunderstood by professionals, and the possibility that this attitude can be transposed to researchers.  Therefore, focus group participants discussed their needs to feel validated and respected by researchers.

A key theme emerging from the testimonies was the way participants understood the terms “victim” and “survivor.” While some participants preferred the term survivor, associating it with inner strength and pride, others described victimhood and survivorhood as experiences that can alternate throughout different stages of life, depending on the healing process and individual circumstances. In the focus groups, PLECM concluded that if they participate in research, they need to feel protected, knowing that support is there if they feel retraumatiyed, but also need to have the freedom to share their experiences, be included in planning the research.

The testimonies also highlighted the importance of support and empathy in interactions with professionals. Participants discussed difficulties in disclosing experiences of childhood maltreatment and emphasised the need for professionals to create safe environments in which survivors feel listened to and understood.

Relevance to SERENA

The presentation contributes to SERENA’s objective of placing the experiences and perspectives of people with lived experience of child maltreatment at the centre of research and policy discussions. The findings provide valuable insights into survivors’ experiences with child protection services, including their expectations regarding professional support, training, empathy and communication. They also highlight the challenges surrounding disclosure and the importance of ensuring that services respond appropriately to the complex and long-term consequences of childhood maltreatment.

Through Maria Roth’s contribution at the European Mental Health Conference, SERENA strengthens the visibility of its research within European discussions on mental health, child maltreatment and survivor-centred approaches, while connecting previous EURO-CAN research with the project's current objectives.