Standing Ovation for TRAUMALITY at Electrifying Northern Irish Premiere in Belfast

The energy in the room was electrifying. People were not simply gathering to watch a documentary. They were coming together to question how we understand mental health, share experiences and explore what needs to change. And perhaps most importantly, there was a sense of hope.

For a society with a complex history of conflict, adversity and intergenerational trauma, the response was particularly meaningful. The enthusiasm in the room suggested a community ready to engage in these conversations and eager to explore a different way forward.

The evening was independently organised by Anthea Smyth, Victoria Nicol and Michelle Major, without external funding, bringing together practitioners, educators, advocates and people with lived experience.

Northern Ireland's relationship with trauma cannot be separated from its history. Decades of conflict during the Troubles left thousands of people bereaved, injured and exposed to violence, fear and uncertainty. Although the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 marked an important turning point, the psychological and social consequences of the conflict did not simply disappear.

Research has explored how conflict-related trauma can influence later generations, including children born long after the worst of the violence. Not everyone in Northern Ireland shares the same history or experiences, but the wider legacy of conflict remains an important part of understanding the country's mental health landscape.

Following the screening, Ton Mazzone was joined by an incredible panel:

The panel was asked: if you had the power to make changes across Northern Ireland to both prevent trauma and help people heal from its effects, what would be your top three priorities?

One of the most powerful reflections of the evening came from Áine Wallace. When asked what she would change, her answer was striking in its simplicity: time to learn, time to play, time for relationships, time for one another, time to reflect.

Parents struggling to find time to connect with their children. Teachers overwhelmed by demands. Professionals carrying ever heavier workloads. Áine's contribution challenged the audience to consider whether a more trauma-informed society might require us to fundamentally reconsider how we organise our lives.

For Siobhan Wilson-McGlinchy, a central priority was early intervention. Drawing on her work with children and families, she highlighted the significance of pregnancy, birth and the first years of life, and how children communicate through behaviour, play and the body before they have words. The discussion also called for greater collaboration between healthcare, education and community services, so support arrives long before crisis point.

Charlotte Davies brought attention to the relationship between sensory processing, movement and learning. Drawing on her work with Fit 2 Learn, she encouraged a wider conversation about children who struggle within conventional classrooms, and the need to respond to their differences with curiosity rather than judgement.

Shauna Quigley drew on her work as a therapist and her own lived experience to explore personal agency in healing, recognising people as active participants in their own recovery rather than placing all the expertise with the professional.

Throughout the evening, the conversation kept returning to what comes next. Ton spoke about building on these conversations, including ways to help children better understand their nervous systems, emotions and responses to stress, and about giving children a voice in the systems designed to support them.

When the discussion opened to the audience, people shared personal experiences and questions about social prescribing, education, neurodivergence and mental health services, along with the pressures faced by those who support others. There are already extraordinary people doing meaningful work, often in isolation. The opportunity lies in bringing them together.

A heartfelt thank you to Anthea Smyth, Victoria Nicol and Michelle Major, and to Roe Valley Therapy Centre, InCorr, The Sunshine Project, CityVets and Resilient Rhythms, alongside every organisation and individual who gave their time, energy and resources.