Sidran Institute and Toolwire Observe National Post Traumatic Stress Month

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Through increasing initiatives such as PTSD Awareness Month and innovative learning resources such as the Risking Connection Learnscapes for trauma care, we can begin to better address this important issue more efficiently, effectively, and affordably.

Baltimore, MD (PRWEB) June 19, 2012

The US Senate passed a resolution naming this June the first-ever National Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month. For The Sidran Institute, an organization specializing in collaborative, multidisciplinary education and resources to support those who have experienced trauma and those who provide care to them, this is extremely exciting news.

This official recognition affirms the Institute’s recent investment in the development of an exciting extension of its flagship Risking Connection® program to provide immersive online simulations designed specifically to help trauma-responsive schools, medical systems, businesses, faith communities and neighborhoods understand the breadth and impact of traumatic experience.

Co-created with the help of Toolwire, a leader in the development of experiential learning solutions, this cutting-edge online learning program will help mental health and social services professionals work with trauma survivors in an innovative new way that is expected to reduce the time, trauma, and costs of healing. In addition to strengthening the impact of the Institute’s current person-to-person training, this online delivery method will also make Risking Connection accessible to a much broader audience.

The Risking Connection Learnscapes will immerse practitioners in photo-realistic settings with interactive video-characters. This approach creates a “context” for learning to take place and will require learners to interact in real-world settings that demonstrate meaningful application of essential knowledge and skills. Along the way, “Natural Assessments” will not only assess performance but will also provide immediate feedback through remediation designed to support learners by guiding them to optimal approaches in subtle ways that improve learning, build confidence, and encourage learners to make decisions in safe environments where the consequences for mistakes is low but the opportunity for teachable moments is high.

“Our brave men and women of the military face higher levels of traumatic stress and thus higher levels of PTSD. A lesser known fact is that men, women, and children across America and its Territories develop the same symptoms in response to poverty, natural disaster, medical crisis, disabilities, abuse, neglect, and crime. Public safety workers, educators, and medical care providers are also at-risk candidates for PTSD,” comments Elizabeth Power, CEO of EPower & Associates, a Sidran learning partner. “While the wars of recent years have heightened our awareness of PTSD upon the military, we are at risk for underestimating its cost on our social fabric. Children cannot learn when they are terrified or traumatized. Parents cannot parent. Teachers cannot teach. Workers underperform or over- manage. Judgment wanes. Relief is often sought in destructive ways; physical health is impaired; and faith life is challenged.”

Steve Lynch, Director of Learning Solutions at Toolwire added, “Hopefully, through increasing initiatives such as the PTSD Awareness Month and innovative new learning resources such as the Risking Connection Learnscapes for trauma care, our country can begin to better address this important issue more efficiently, effectively, and affordably.”

About Sidran
Sidran Institute, Inc. (formerly Foundation) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of international scope that helps people understand, recover from, and treat traumatic stress (including PTSD), dissociative disorders, and co-occurring issues such as addictions, self injury, and suicide. Sidran develops and delivers educational programming, resources for treatment, support, and self-help, trauma-informed community and professional collaboration projects and publications about trauma and recovery. Sidran’s constituency is made up of any individuals or organizations touched by the effects of trauma, including:

•     adults, adolescents, and children who have experienced or witnessed traumatic events,
•     supportive friends and family members,
•     mental health, crisis, victims services, and child-serving professionals, foster families, public safety, and disaster services personnel
•     support networks, schools and educators, faith communities, and more

About Toolwire
Toolwire is a learning solutions provider specializing in products and services for experiential learning. Serving global leaders in both the private sector and Higher Education, Toolwire’s core competencies include developing rich media educational content and providing Learning-as-a-Service that fully supports the needs of learning institutions. Toolwire Learnscapes, StudentDesktops, Scenarios, and LiveLabs provide the quickest, most effective way to develop skills and enhance student success. These innovative learning solutions enable organizations to provide "virtual internships" across a broad range of subjects including Business, Health Care, Legal, Information Technology, and more.

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