OMAGH BASE FOR NEW NI TRAUMA CENTRE
Omagh base for new NI trauma centre
THE Minister for Victims, Mr. Des Browne, has unveiled a three-year funding package worth �1.5 million to create a new trauma centre which will be based in Omagh.
It is expected to greatly facilitate the development of programmes to assess and treat the impact of the 'Troubles', and will also be an instrument for conducting research into the most effective ways of providing support for those affected by violence.
A subsidiary aim of the centre will be in the development of training programmes for organisations and individuals working in the area of trauma through violence.
Chairman of the Northern Ireland Centre for Trauma and Transformation, Professor Fabian Monds, heading the Trust that is developing the centre, said that the funding would enable the centre to take forward, consolidate and disseminate the important lessons that had been
learned by health and social serving in addressing the needs of those affected by the Omagh bombing.
"The new centre will fill an important gap in the range of services available to those who have been traumatised by the Troubles and will build upon the significant work undertaken in the wake of the Omagh bombing by the Sperrin Lakeland Trust.
"The most valuable lessons learned in providing treatments for trauma, need to be shared with others working in this field," he said.
The professor continued: "The benefits of this work should be made available to all who have suffered, and continue to suffer, through the violence, including those who continue to experience difficulties in the wake of the Omagh bombing.
"The new centre will focus on the assessment and treatment of trauma and related conditions and, importantly on personal transformation and growth. I, and my fellow trustees, are grateful to the Minister and the Victims Liaison Unit for their support in taking this important work forward," he said.
Professor Monds said the centre would be developing its programmes over the next few months. He expressed appreciation for the encouragement of the Sperrin Lakeland Trust, Omagh District Council, the Omagh Memorial Group and the Omagh Fund in the development of the vision for the new centre.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Sperrin Lakeland Trust, Mr. Richard Scott, whose organisation spearheaded the response of the health and social services to the Omagh bombing, said he was encouraged and heartened by the announcement.
"In welcoming this significant development, I feel it is important to remember the tragedy that has led to it, and through which significant things have been learned which can now be made available to the wider community," he said.
Mr. Scott continued: "In acknowledging the losses and suffering of individuals and communities, the possibilities provided through the new centre speak of hope and renewal, through which many others will be helped in the days ahead."
One of the new body's trustees, Roy McClelland, professor of psychiatry at Queen's University of Belfast, said that the new centre would fill a significant gap in the range of services available to people in Northern Ireland, who have had traumatic reactions to their experiences of violence.
"The proposals to develop a residential unit as part of the centre will be a very important feature of the new centre's work and will provide a service which is badly needed," he said.
And Mr. David Bolton, director of Community Care with Sperrin Lakeland Trust, which led the team that undertook much of the innovative work in Omagh, said he was pleased with the proposals to develop the new centre.
He also welcomed the intention to build upon the work undertaken in the wake of the bombing.
"Our experience shows that people who have been living with high levels of distress, often over a long period of time, can be greatly helped by the therapeutic approaches used in Omagh.
"Expanding the availability of such services, and helping others to provide them, will make a real contribution to addressing the long-term personal and community implications of the Troubles," he said.
Conserved
The Trust that has been developing the Northern Ireland Centre for Trauma and Transformation, was formed only recently to ensure that the learning from the work undertaken in the wake of the Omagh bombing was conserved and built upon for the benefit of all affected by violence.
In addition to the facilities outlined, the centre will provide direct therapeutic services, carry out research into the impact of traumatic events and effective treatments, undertake education and training programmes for others interested in learning about trauma and its treatment, and develop innovative treatments and ideas for addressing trauma and associated problems.
While it will be based in Omagh, there will be outreach facilities and satellite provision in other parts of Northern Ireland in due course, and it is expected that a range of treatment services, research and training will start coming on stream early in the New Year.
Staff at the centre will work with other public, community and voluntary bodies to complement and support their work and to develop a range of services and initiatives.
The founding trustees are Professor Monds, the Duchess of Abercorn, Sinead McLaughlin, a school principal from Buncrana, Brian Patterson, former chief executive of the Wedgwood group, and Professor McClelland.
Positive step
Meanwhile, the chairman of Omagh District Council, Mr. Barry McElduff, said that the establishment of the new regional centre was a very positive step towards supporting all the victims of conflict.
"It is particularly encouraging that Omagh, which suffered so tragically in 1998, is to be the location for the new centre," he said.
"I am extremely impressed by the range of treatment services which will be delivered from the new centre and note that it will also be the key to taking forward research on the most positive ways to support those affected by conflict and to advance education and learning about the assessment and treatment of trauma," he said.
"By virtue of the fact that this new centre will have outreach and satellite facilities in other parts of the North, and will incorporate an international dimension, it will also provide a real opportunity for Omagh, which has received endless support from all over the world to give something back. This, too, is to be welcomed," he said.
And the chairman added: "A number of months ago, Omagh District Council committed itself in principle to making property in its ownership available to the ' project and we are delighted that the faith we demonstrated in the proposal at that time has been similarly acknowledged in this announcement."
THE Minister for Victims, Mr. Des Browne, has unveiled a three-year funding package worth �1.5 million to create a new trauma centre which will be based in Omagh.
It is expected to greatly facilitate the development of programmes to assess and treat the impact of the 'Troubles', and will also be an instrument for conducting research into the most effective ways of providing support for those affected by violence.
A subsidiary aim of the centre will be in the development of training programmes for organisations and individuals working in the area of trauma through violence.
Chairman of the Northern Ireland Centre for Trauma and Transformation, Professor Fabian Monds, heading the Trust that is developing the centre, said that the funding would enable the centre to take forward, consolidate and disseminate the important lessons that had been
learned by health and social serving in addressing the needs of those affected by the Omagh bombing.
"The new centre will fill an important gap in the range of services available to those who have been traumatised by the Troubles and will build upon the significant work undertaken in the wake of the Omagh bombing by the Sperrin Lakeland Trust.
"The most valuable lessons learned in providing treatments for trauma, need to be shared with others working in this field," he said.
The professor continued: "The benefits of this work should be made available to all who have suffered, and continue to suffer, through the violence, including those who continue to experience difficulties in the wake of the Omagh bombing.
"The new centre will focus on the assessment and treatment of trauma and related conditions and, importantly on personal transformation and growth. I, and my fellow trustees, are grateful to the Minister and the Victims Liaison Unit for their support in taking this important work forward," he said.
Professor Monds said the centre would be developing its programmes over the next few months. He expressed appreciation for the encouragement of the Sperrin Lakeland Trust, Omagh District Council, the Omagh Memorial Group and the Omagh Fund in the development of the vision for the new centre.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Sperrin Lakeland Trust, Mr. Richard Scott, whose organisation spearheaded the response of the health and social services to the Omagh bombing, said he was encouraged and heartened by the announcement.
"In welcoming this significant development, I feel it is important to remember the tragedy that has led to it, and through which significant things have been learned which can now be made available to the wider community," he said.
Mr. Scott continued: "In acknowledging the losses and suffering of individuals and communities, the possibilities provided through the new centre speak of hope and renewal, through which many others will be helped in the days ahead."
One of the new body's trustees, Roy McClelland, professor of psychiatry at Queen's University of Belfast, said that the new centre would fill a significant gap in the range of services available to people in Northern Ireland, who have had traumatic reactions to their experiences of violence.
"The proposals to develop a residential unit as part of the centre will be a very important feature of the new centre's work and will provide a service which is badly needed," he said.
And Mr. David Bolton, director of Community Care with Sperrin Lakeland Trust, which led the team that undertook much of the innovative work in Omagh, said he was pleased with the proposals to develop the new centre.
He also welcomed the intention to build upon the work undertaken in the wake of the bombing.
"Our experience shows that people who have been living with high levels of distress, often over a long period of time, can be greatly helped by the therapeutic approaches used in Omagh.
"Expanding the availability of such services, and helping others to provide them, will make a real contribution to addressing the long-term personal and community implications of the Troubles," he said.
Conserved
The Trust that has been developing the Northern Ireland Centre for Trauma and Transformation, was formed only recently to ensure that the learning from the work undertaken in the wake of the Omagh bombing was conserved and built upon for the benefit of all affected by violence.
In addition to the facilities outlined, the centre will provide direct therapeutic services, carry out research into the impact of traumatic events and effective treatments, undertake education and training programmes for others interested in learning about trauma and its treatment, and develop innovative treatments and ideas for addressing trauma and associated problems.
While it will be based in Omagh, there will be outreach facilities and satellite provision in other parts of Northern Ireland in due course, and it is expected that a range of treatment services, research and training will start coming on stream early in the New Year.
Staff at the centre will work with other public, community and voluntary bodies to complement and support their work and to develop a range of services and initiatives.
The founding trustees are Professor Monds, the Duchess of Abercorn, Sinead McLaughlin, a school principal from Buncrana, Brian Patterson, former chief executive of the Wedgwood group, and Professor McClelland.
Positive step
Meanwhile, the chairman of Omagh District Council, Mr. Barry McElduff, said that the establishment of the new regional centre was a very positive step towards supporting all the victims of conflict.
"It is particularly encouraging that Omagh, which suffered so tragically in 1998, is to be the location for the new centre," he said.
"I am extremely impressed by the range of treatment services which will be delivered from the new centre and note that it will also be the key to taking forward research on the most positive ways to support those affected by conflict and to advance education and learning about the assessment and treatment of trauma," he said.
"By virtue of the fact that this new centre will have outreach and satellite facilities in other parts of the North, and will incorporate an international dimension, it will also provide a real opportunity for Omagh, which has received endless support from all over the world to give something back. This, too, is to be welcomed," he said.
And the chairman added: "A number of months ago, Omagh District Council committed itself in principle to making property in its ownership available to the ' project and we are delighted that the faith we demonstrated in the proposal at that time has been similarly acknowledged in this announcement."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0955
Published Date: 13-Dec-01
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.