Action Trauma – Member in Focus #45

May 23, 2021

Interview with Bridget Madden from Action Trauma

Tell us a bit about yourself and/or your organisation.

My name is Bridget, my role is Events Executive at Action Trauma.

Action Trauma is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to changing lives for the better by promoting awareness of Trauma and Trauma Recovery throughout the world. We create and run large scale international and local events addressing all aspects of trauma, anxiety and stress, along with recovery from health problems, depressions and addiction which they cause.
I am passionate about bringing people together to understand and learn from each other and world-leading experts. Our events allow attendees to take a deeper look at mental health and all the aspects that can damage, interfere and disrupt the balance of positive health.

How well have you/your organisation adapted to the pandemic?

Action Trauma have adapted well under the pressure of the pandemic. We had been due to host our large bi-annual Summit Live from the Waterfront Hall, Belfast in June 2020. As soon as Covid came into play in March 2020, Action Trauma made a swift decision to move the event to an online platform. This came with its challenges, but we are proud to say that it was a huge success for the team.

We learned very quickly the do’s and don’ts of organising, hosting and producing a conference through a digital platform and we are excited to be doing it again in June 2021. The virtual Trauma Recovery Summit will be hosted live from Titanic Belfast and run over three days.

How well have people/organisations in your area collaborated throughout the pandemic?

The majority of the organisations we deal with range from private psychology clinics, NHS, schools, community/ social groups, charities, first responders and beyond. Throughout the pandemic, we have found that people have been more understanding and more willing to share the ethos of what we are about and likewise.

We have partnered up with some fantastic organisations to help share their information among our attendees. There has been a real effort from everyone to help make a difference within communities and we are hopeful this is something that will continue in the months and years to come.

What key needs are becoming apparent and/or are likely to arise this year?

The key needs that are extremely apparent to us is the need for social engagement. We are missing that in person event, networking and socialising. We were so fortunate to be able to carry on within a virtual scenario, however there is now a need and thirst to meet in person and share ideas.

Many of us have struggled both personally and on a business level throughout the pandemic and there is a need for a safe place to meet and chat. The transition back to the office will be difficult for some and I think it is being open to listen and allow time for the change in routine without strict timeframes.

Action Trauma are planning for 2021 through to 2023 to help make a difference and connect people and ultimately bring healing to a hurting world.

ASK: What do you need, right now, that the members of Community Network NI and/or the wider community may be able to help you with?

Our goal is to share the awareness of what we do as an organisation to as many people as possible. We offer exciting, varied, accessible and engaging events that speaks to the knowledge of people researching in the field of trauma right through to a community worker dealing first-hand with trauma, PTSD and mental health issues.

We ask that you share our information with your circle, organisation, colleagues and community to help raise the awareness and start working towards a shared goal of recovery within trauma.

For more information, please follow the link below and enter “ACTION TRAUMA” to the first field.

OFFER: What support are you currently offering and are you open to members of Community Network NI and/or the wider community making contact?

We currently have 2 events at the moment.

We have recently launched our FREE webinar with Judith Prager: Verbal First Aid™ Webinar. Verbal First Aid ™(VFA) uses words and images to set a course for recovery and resilience. Judith Simon Prager, PhD, has been teaching the protocol of Verbal First Aid™ from 2001. The protocol is the most simple yet the most powerful first action you can take at the scene of an accident, crisis or emergency. The protocol is taught to firefighters, emergency medical personnel, doctors, nurses and police officers around the world.
The right words said in the right way at the right time, when shock, pain and fear are all around, can shift the perception and feelings of the victim to allow healing and circumvent the impulse towards a traumatic memory or PTSD. Register here: Verbal First Aid | Action Trauma (Only live until the 1st June).

Our second event is the Virtual Trauma Recovery Summit which is due to be held on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd June. The Virtual Trauma Recovery Summit brings together the world’s leading experts in the field of trauma and trauma recovery to present their latest research and understanding of trauma and how it effects both individuals, families and communities. The Summit will examine a range of treatment modalities to heal trauma and how delegates can incorporate these into their own professional practice.
Sources of trauma such as childhood adversity, social injustice and environmental stressors are linked to poor mental health. There is a strong link between addictions, self-harm and suicide. The subject of trauma is relevant to a large audience of health, education and social care professionals.

If you would like to be connected with this offer of support, please follow the link below and enter “ACTION TRAUMA” to the first field.