Dr. Breda Friel is Course Director for the Postgraduate, Master’s programme, and Continuous Professional Development Short Courses (Level M) in Community Youth Work at Ulster University Magee.  She is the director of The Centre for Youth Research and Dialogue (CYRD) and her research areas include suicidology, suicide prevention, Autism, and the importance of strength-based, trauma-informed relationships in practice.  Research also includes Trauma, Covid-19, and Crisis.   Specialising in trauma debriefing and critical incident responses, Breda is an accredited therapist and clinical supervisor with both the Irish Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP) and the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).  She works with statutory and voluntary agencies in managing resources and support following critical events and current research is focusing on the unfolding narrative and practice themes emerging from Covid-19 and its impact on individuals and communities.  Breda is a founding member of several mental health initiatives, including Insight Inishowen, Jigsaw Donegal, the Social Prescribing Programme, and the award-winning Feel-Good Fortnight in Inishowen.  She is the author of The Irish Association of Suicidology: A History (2020).