A young male shouting at his mother
A series of educational films, funded by the Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership, have been launched as part of a campaign to raise awareness and provide support on Child and Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse (CAPVA).
CAPVA, a form of domestic abuse that remains under-recognised, has profound impacts on family dynamics and mental health. Produced by Merseyside Youth Association’s (MYA) RAISE Mental Health Promotion Team, the films have been developed to help families and those working with families identify what is meant by challenging and harmful behaviour by a child towards their parent or caregiver, sometimes referred to as CAPVA.
We want to break down the stigma associated with not having conversations about these experiences and empower and enable families to find the right support.
Damian Hart, Principal Development Manager at MYA
Created in partnership with Capa First Response, the films help professionals effectively identify and respond to signs of CAPVA.
We recognise the profound impact CAPVA can have on families and understand the need for accessible support and resources. These films and training sessions are a part of our ongoing commitment to ensure families, carers, and professionals are empowered with the knowledge and tools they need to create safe, supportive environments.
By offering free, accessible resources and training, we’re actively working to reduce the stigma surrounding CAPVA and equip the community with essential knowledge to support affected families.
Roger Thompson, MVRP Education Lead
In addition to the films, training and resources offer essential information to help parents, carers, and professionals understand and manage CAPVA, providing practical guidance and insight on this complex issue.
A recent study by Liverpool John Moors University (LJMU) identified a significant portion of both parents (65%) and practitioners (85%) agree that CAPVA is a problem in Merseyside. A majority of practitioners (67%) perceived an increase in CAPVA incidents in the past year compared to the previous year, while none reported a decrease.
Based on real situations experienced by families, the films cover a range of scenarios, including understanding the causes of CAPVA, strategies for intervention, and creating a safe environment for families dealing with these challenges. We created them in response to the need to raise awareness of this important, hidden harm that can devastate family relationships.
Jane Griffiths, CEO of Capa First Response
The films are based on real situations experienced by families. They were created in response to the need to raise awareness of this important, hidden harm that can devastate family relationships. MYA wants to help break down the stigma associated with not having conversations about these experiences and empower and enable families to find the right support.
Warning: These videos contain language and scenes some people may find upsetting.