Dr Liam Spencer is a Research Fellow aligned to our workforce inclusion and innovation for impact research theme
Liam is a Research Associate in the Population Health Sciences Institute at Newcastle University, where he has worked since December 2014.
His PhD explored early intervention and prevention in mental health.
Liam’s research interests include mental health, children and young people, early intervention and prevention, and substance use.
Across these areas, he is interested in generating evidence that supports workforce development, service improvement, and the implementation of effective practice.
Liam has worked on a range of NIHR-funded and collaborative projects, including research exploring father-inclusive practice in children’s social care; public mental health approaches to self-harm and suicide prevention; whole-school approaches to mental health; and inclusive school environments for autistic young people.
Before transitioning into academia, Liam worked in youth and community practice across local authority and VCSE organisations. This work included supporting children and young people in generic contexts, as well as through early intervention, youth engagement, mental health promotion, and specialist support for young people with additional needs. This experience continues to shape Liam’s approach to research, ensuring it is collaborative, grounded in lived experience, and focused on improving outcomes for people and communities.
Prior to his current role, Liam was an ARC NENC Mental Health Fellow, where his work focused on building mental health research capacity across the region.