UCL Leading Edge Day 2020

Psychological support following a disaster. The journey of recovery. Long and short term perspectives and responses

Traumatic events such as the Grenfell Tower fire and the Manchester Arena attack devastate communities and put schools at the heart of efforts to provide short-term care and to support recovery. Psychological care in the immediate aftermath generally involves Educational Psychology Services, and schools in an affected community can sometimes need to draw on psychological support and advice for years afterwards.

This Leading Edge Day will bring together psychologists who have worked with the short-term aftermath of trauma and traumatic events as well as taking a longer-term perspective, together with researchers who have looked at the factors that can promote recovery.

The morning will consider responses to large-scale incidents that affect whole communities and will provide an opportunity to hear about research that is extending and refining what we know about psychological growth after trauma. During the afternoon, we will hear from practitioner EPs about their work with schools, both in the immediate aftermath of critical incidents and in supporting students who have experienced trauma. Finally, we will hear about some new research, exploring teacher perceptions of EP support for schools after a crisis.