Press Releases:
Sep. 7, 2006
May 8, 2006
Press Coverage:
Sep. 10, 2006
Patrick J. Kennedy, (D-RI) co-chairman of the bipartisan Addiction, Treatment and Recovery Caucus, spoke before the screening of the movie "Beyond Fear", a documentary that underscores the need for governments around the world to act now to minimize the crippling psychological effects of terrorism acts, natural disasters and war, Thursday, September 7, 2006. Kennedy said, "The effectiveness of terrorism is limited by our reactions to it, as well as the measure of solidarity within society. To fight terrorism here at home most effectively we must maximize our resilience, and, at a minimum, address the social maladies that currently instill any sense of social isolation within the citizenry." (click photo to download high quality image)
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For Immediate Release
May 8, 2006
PSYCHOLOGISTS, PSYCHIATRISTS & SOCIAL WORKERS WITHOUT BORDERS
HOSTS DOCUMENTARY THAT ADVISES WORLD
ON PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF FEAR & TERROR
Austin, Texas — The screening of a documentary Monday night by a non-profit, non-governmental group of international mental health experts, Psychologists, Psychiatrists & Social Workers Without Borders (also known as Psychs Without Borders), underlines the need for governments around the world to act now to minimalize the crippling psychological effects of terrorism acts, natural disasters and war.
The U.S. premiere of the documentary, BEYOND FEAR: FINDING HOPE IN THE HORROR, begins at 7 p.m. Monday, May 8, at the Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Avenue in Austin.
Dr. Pamela Ryan, founder of Psychs Without Borders and head of Issues Deliberation America/Australia, says that after September 11 “we learned that experiencing terror is a paradox. People are resilient and adaptable in many ways; however, pervasive and sustained fear and terror is detrimental to the health (both mental and physical) of most people.
“Actions can be taken at the local, state, national and global levels to minimize the psychological impacts of terror, and hence, help thwart terrorists’ goals,” she continues. “If we do not counter the psychological impacts of terror in a systemic comprehensive approach, we risk contributing to terrorists’ goals.”
Ryan believes it is time for the U.S. government to do more, in particular at the community level, to reduce the psychological impacts of the fear generated not only by terrorism but also by recent natural disasters such as hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
That governments must do more is just one of the messages in a briefing paper released by Issues Deliberation America/Australia that sprang from the International Assembly on Managing the Psychology of Fear and Terror held in 2004 in Austin and its work to determine the best ways in the world to manage the psychology of fear and terror. Ryan says the briefing paper suggests a range of strategies for improving America’s and the Western world’s preparedness in the current environment.
The documentary details the Austin Assembly and the strategies it developed. It shows survivors of events in New York City, Madrid, Bali, Israel and Palestine and some family members of survivors describing their reactions as well as some of the 90 international trauma experts from 11 countries brainstorming during the assembly in Austin.
Ryan, as well as Congressman Lloyd Doggett and other members of the Austin premiere host committee and international board of directors of Psychs Without Borders will attend the screening and a VIP reception at the theater.
The premiere of BEYOND FEAR in Austin precedes the inaugural meeting on Tuesday, May 9, of the board of directors of Psychologists, Psychiatrists & Social Workers Without Borders and international screenings in coming months before Congress and the parliaments of Canada, Great Britain and Australia.
Members of the board are some of the world's leading experts on fear, terror and psychological recovery: Ryan, board chairman; Dr. Rony Berger, director of Community Services, NATAL, The Israel Trauma Center for Victims of Terror and War; David Bonython-Wright, private practice counsellor; Dr. Patrick Boyer, Q.C., D.U., J.D., M.A., department of Political Science, University of Guelph, Ontario; Dr. Roxane Cohen-Silver, department of Psychology & Social Behavior, University of California, Irvine; Dr. Randall Marshall, director of trauma studies and associate director of Anxiety Disorders Clinic, New York State Psychiatric Institute, associate professor of clinical psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons; Dr. James Pennebaker, department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin; Dr. Lynette Rentoul of North London National Health Psychological Services; and Dr. Stephanie Rude, counselling program director, department of Educational Psychology, University of Texas.
The host committee for the Austin premiere includes Ryan; Amon Burton, LL.B.; Congressman Lloyd Doggett; Deborah Edward, Ph.D.; Susan Engelking; Betty Sue Flowers, Ph.D.; Deborah Green; Marcela Gual, Ph.D.; Johnna Jones; Stephen Jones; Chris Mattsson; Lynn Meredith; Tom Meredith; James Pennebaker; Ph.D.; Darrell Pierce; MariBen Ramsey; Stephanie Rude, Ph.D.; Eddie Safady; Steve Saunders; Evan Smith; Julia Null-Smith; Nav Sooch; John Thornton; Kelly White; Anne Elizabeth Wynn, Austin Mayor Will Wynn; Mary Yancy, Ph.D.; and Kelly Young.
CONTACTS:
Jill McGuckin, McGuckin Entertainment PR, 512.217.9404 c; jill@mcguckinpr.com
Dr. Pamela Ryan, founder of Psychs Without Borders and managing director of Issues Deliberation Australia/America, 512.472.1012; pamryan@aol.com
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