Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope helped students understand concepts like trauma and resilience and the consequences of these
WIT in partnership with Irish Attachment in Action (IAIA) and the Irish Foster Care Association(IFCA) recently hosted a screening of the documentary ‘Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope’.
This was of particular interest to those working with or teaching about vulnerable people, the health sector and/or those with an interest in understanding the physical and emotional effects of trauma and adverse experiences. It was followed by a Q and A session with a panel including Danielle Douglas, President of the International Foster Care Organisation, Lecturer in Social Care, School of Humanities and Dr Katherine Cagney, Lecturer in Psychology, School of Humanities.
Important for students
“The screening was important for SETU as a large proportion of our students whether from Social Care, Early Childhood Studies, Social Science or Nursing, upon graduation, may find themselves working with vulnerable individuals and their families,” explains Danielle Douglas.
“Understanding concepts like trauma and resilience and the consequences of these on physical and emotional well being should be central to their practice in order to design effective interventions and responses. This film documents the trajectory towards a more strength based approach to understanding trauma and trauma informed practice and it is important that SETU is part of that movement,” she adds.
Conversation starter
“Inviting members from the public and local agencies to the event also ensured as many people as possible were informed about this new way of thinking and started many conversations at a wider level. There was quite a good turn out and we had some insightful and interesting discussions with the panel and from the audience afterward.”