UG launches post-graduate Certificate in Trauma, Grief Resilience

A first-of-its-kind post-graduate Certificate in Trauma and Grief Resilience has been introduced by the University of Guyana to provide professionals working in schools, communities, and on an interpersonal level with skills and techniques to support those working through trauma and grief.
This new programme was conceptualised and implemented by the university, which has a specific interest in looking at resilience as a strategy, system, and discipline.
At the recent launch of the programme, the university’s Vice Chancellor, Dr Paloma Mohamed, noted that this course is being offered at the post-graduate level to equip people working at a certain level in communities, and schools with specific skills and techniques.

“Such a programme of study is not only relevant and needed in Guyana but in other parts of the Caribbean and the world. A lot of activities and events that have happened since even COVID have left people with the need for professional care and help in getting over grief and trauma.”
According to her, this ranges from interpersonal deaths and loss and catastrophic events such as floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, and in particular in the Caribbean, hurricanes.
She added, “We would hope in rolling this programme out that we are going to be able to support the work, in particular, of counsellors in schools who are placed by the Ministry of Education or by private organisations who could help children, especially who carry a lot of ‘hatred’ in them.

We don’t know it until they start to act out later on. And all those who have lost so many people in the last few years. This includes migrants and children who are being displaced from our neighbouring countries through very tragic and sad circumstances…”
Mohamed expressed that the university is offering this post-graduate certificate to persons in the Region as there is no other programme like this being offered in the Caribbean.
The post-graduate certificate will cover a broad range of topics, according to course lecturer Marva Langevine, who holds a Master of Science in Psychology of Mental Health from St Mary’s University in London.
As the founder of Guyana Golden Lives Organisation, a bereavement charity, Langevine has offered grief and trauma support to scores of children.
Stressing the need for such a programme, Langevine said, “As we are gathered here today, we are reminded of the pressing challenges faced by our nation. High rates of suicide, domestic violence and other traumatic events have left scars on our communities. This course empowers course participants with the knowledge to identify those at risk and to provide preventative strategies that foster resilience and healthy coping mechanisms.”
Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud, who delivered brief remarks, highlighted that the new programme will enhance Guyana’s development. The offering of the post-graduate certificate course is critical to the professional development and specialisation of social service practitioners who work with children, individuals, and families in homes, schools, and communities, noted Minister Persaud.
The programme is the product of a collaboration between the University of Guyana’s Institute for Human Resilience, Strategic Security, and the Future and UNICEF Guyana. During the virtual launch, UNICEF’s Area Representative, Nicolas Pron congratulated the University of Guyana for driving the creation and roll-out of the course.
“Building a protective environment, especially for children, within homes, schools and societies must be our collective mission to ensure each child can not only survive, but thrive,” he said.
In order to advance research and strengthen the human resource ability of Guyana and other countries in the Caribbean to tackle mental health and other related challenges head on, the university of Guyana has  over the years created a number of programmes.