Salem Health and Oregon Center for Nursing host award-winning suicide prevention film May 1

What if watching a simple, hour-long movie could make a huge difference in someone’s life?

Would you watch it? Mark your calendar for May 1 and tell others.

Salem Health has partnered with the Oregon Center for Nursing to present Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope for free at Northern Lights Theatre Pub on Tuesday, May 1, at 6 p.m. The theatre, at 3893 Commercial St. SE Salem, is donating the venue. A panel discussion will follow.

The documentary explores the rising epidemic of suicide and health conditions caused by toxic stress early in life, a relatively new science. Salem Health has become proactive in recognizing – and addressing – toxic stress in hospitals and clinics through an approached called “trauma-informed care.” Examples of trauma include violence, neglect and abuse.

“There’s an amazing body of science now that explains how and why the body responds to changes in the brain as a result of childhood traumas,” said Michael Polacek, Salem Health professional development specialist and psychiatric-mental health nurse, referring to the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study. “The body does not forget, so developing resilience by retraining the brain can help a person recover and enjoy a satisfying life.”

The first step is to raise awareness, so right after the showing a group of experts will stage a panel discussion with audience participation. While geared to the general public, this discussion is especially relevant for health workers, educators, parents and community leaders. 

The panel includes Hong Lee, PhD (facilitator), Salem Health medical ethicist; Satya Chandragiri, MD, Chandras clinic psychiatrist; Danielle Vander Linden, Central High School trauma informed care coordinator; Doug Gouge, Polk County family and community outreach supervisor; Ann Kirkwood, Oregon Health Authority suicide intervention coordinator; and Jesse Lippold, Salem Keizer School Board member.

The free screening is part of Salem Health’s effort to show popular health-related movies and documentaries with an opportunity to ask questions of experts following the show. The Oregon Center for Nursing has embraced trauma-informed care in training nurses, and Northern Lights Theater is donating one theatre for free, for the May 1 event. The Salem Health Foundation is also sponsoring.

More about the film: The critically acclaimed Resilience directed by James Redford chronicles the birth of a new movement among pediatricians, therapists, clinicians and educators using cutting-edge brain science to disrupt cycles of violence, addiction and disease. The ACES began in 1997 by Kaiser Permanente and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  It traces health outcomes of children into young adulthood, demonstrating a connection between early trauma and social problems, even health problems such as cancer and heart disease. Findings show toxic stress as a major cause of everything from heart disease and cancer to substance abuse and depression. Extremely stressful experiences in childhood can physically alter brain development, with lifelong effects on behavior. In the film, experts share how to break this cycle.  Watch the trailer; Learn more about Salem Health’s approach to trauma-informed care. 

About the co-sponsors
Oregon Center for Nursing
Northern Lights Theatre

About Salem Health: Salem Health offers exceptional care to people in and around Oregon’s mid-Willamette Valley. It comprises hospitals in Salem and Dallas, a medical group of primary and specialty care providers, plus other affiliated services. Visit us at www.salemhealth.org; “Like” us on www.facebook.com/salemhealth; follow us on Twitter: @salemhealth; and view us at www.youtube.com/salemhealth.