Experts: Manage trauma with dignity

Experts have said that we should empower individuals to increase their resilience and manage collective trauma with dignity in the current global pandemic of Covid-19. 

A panel of three experienced psychotherapists, currently practicing in Canada, made the comments during a webinar titled "Managing Trauma with Dignity" under the "Toolbox for Success" series, by Brac University's department of pharmacy on Thursday. 

The panelist were,  Mobina Hasan, psychotherapist and registered clinical social worker, certified clinical traumatologist, certified in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and certified in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT); Susan Armitage, registered psychotherapist, registered marriage and family therapist and a certified anger management specialist; and Bradley Richard Wilton, psychotherapist and marriage and family therapist. 

During the webinar the experts helped the audience better understand what trauma is, and how it is affecting different spheres of life, amid the Covid-19 pandemic. 

They also discussed some coping methods to increase our resilience with dignity. 

Resiliency in the face of adversity is a critical element for success, and it is not something we are born with - it needs to be worked on, they said.

There are skills and strategies for building resilience, they added. 

The speakers also mentioned that it is important to break the stigma surrounding mental health and trauma -- whether it’s asking for help, or helping -- which will change lives. 

As many as 17,800 people were reached through the webinar. 

In the next webinar by the university's pharmacy department titled "Humanistic Leadership to Redefine Human Progress" will have Shaista E. Khilji (PhD-Cantab), professor of human and organizational learning & international affairs at the George Washington University, as a speaker.