Dr Breda Friel

Overview

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 campus.

She is also the director of The Centre for Youth Research and Dialogue (CYRD).  Her research area is focussed on suicide prevention, Autism Spectrum Conditions, and the importance of relationship in practice.  Her current research is studying Museums, Crisis and Covid-19.

Specialising in trauma debriefing and critical incident responses, Breda is an accredited therapist and clinical supervisor with the Irish Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP) and the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy.

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
• the award-winning Feel-Good Fortnight community resilience programme in Inishowen

She is the author of The Irish Association of Suicidology: A History (2020).