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EXTENDED CRITICAL PERIOD: Racism, Prejudice and A Worldwide Pandemic
Since the pandemic reached the shores of North America we have released several E-Alerts that have combined our understanding of how high-profile trauma influences human systems including how it increases violence potential. In the field of Violence Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA™) we have always said that “no one can engage in a major act of violence unless they feel justified: everyone needs to move on a pathway of justification first.
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Family Dynamics During the Pandemic: Series 1 Closeness-Distance Cycle
The most intense Family Dynamic during the COVID-19 quarantine is the Closeness-Distance Cycle. It is naturally occurring but, when intensified, can contribute to profound symptom development. It is a primary risk enhancer in some of our more vulnerable families. The following overview provides the theory and practice dynamics with pandemic-specific interventions. It is primarily for professionals but many parents and caregivers can gain insights from it as well.
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Nova Scotia Mass Shooting and COVID-19 (VTRA and TES Applications)
We have consistently reminded professionals about the broad use of our Community VTRA™ Protocols for all forms of violence and for all Persons of Concern (POC) whether child or adult. This means that government agencies from mental health, social services, probation and parole as well as police, fire, hospitals, schools and other workplaces need to be attentive to any evidence someone may be moving on a pathway to serious violence. They also need to be consistently giving “Fair Notice” that there are protocols in place and anyone with a concern should never hesitate to call police or other VTRA™ partner agencies.
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Community VTRA™ Protocols: An Essential Part of the COVID-19 Response
High-profile trauma intensifies already existing symptoms in individuals and systems (families, workplaces, communities, etc.). Many individuals whose pre-COVID functioning was already distressed or who already exhibited violence potential or suicidal ideation will experience increased shifts in their baseline behaviour as the quarantine extends. Even in the best of family circumstances, too much time together with the ones we love will naturally result in an increase in anxiety triggering a distance phase where we need time apart until separateness rekindles the desire to be close again. In family therapy we refer to this as the “Closeness-Distance Cycle”.
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Trauma expert helps groups deal with COVID-19 fallout
A prominent crisis counsellor and trauma expert says the world has never seen anything like the COVID-19 crisis in recent memory, and it is aggravating already difficult human interactions in the workplace and in the home...
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Rising to the Challenge: Staying Connected with All of Our Students
This NACTATR resource has been developed for education departments, school district leaders and school administrators to support teachers, social workers, psychologists, counsellors, and other school staff responsible for educational support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of our students of concern (SOC) are already struggling emotionally-behaviorally, and some will be at further risk because of intensified family dynamics during the quarantine period. As teachers and other school staff work to stay connected with students, it is essential to apply a trauma-informed approach to guide administrative decisions.
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Trauma-Informed Leadership for Helping Professionals: How to Sustain the Heroes Among Us
For all doctors, nurses, health, mental health, police, fire, paramedics, emergency management and emergency operations centres, education, child and family services workers, government leaders, and all support staff in these systems and others.
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COVID-19: Moving Forward with a Caring Approach
This is the first of a series of CTIP communications that will be released as circumstance warrants. As indicated in the work of VTRA, “the better the data, the better the assessment and the better the assessment, the better the intervention”. As professionals from multiple disciplines across the country, and beyond, are sharing our expertise, we are also learning that the current COVID-19 crisis has some uniqueness specific to our generation especially around more disperse transmission due to modern travel and exponentially higher anxiety due to media and social media coverage.
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The Insurrection on Capitol Hill: Supporting Recovery from Life-Threatening Violence
Dr Marleen Wong and J. Kevin Cameron have combined their years of experience to provide insight and counsel on supporting those impacted by the riots on Capitol Hill. Details of the violence that occurred during the Insurrection of January 6, 2021 continue to be disclosed as we learn more about the motivations and actions of those groups and individuals who surged through the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. Coming after months of struggling
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Region signs violence prevention protocol
Schools, police and community leaders signed a deal this week that could help prevent school shootings. About 90 people were at the St. Albert Curling Club Wednesday to witness the signing of the St. Albert regional Violence Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) Protocol.
https://www.stalberttoday.ca/local-news/region-signs-violence-prevention-vtra-protocol-1914450