5 months ago
PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Future nurses, physician assistants and other health care professionals sat down for a performance and left with better insight into their role in helping prevent domestic violence. The play titled "A Major Medical Breakthrough" uses and interactive approach to get students involved and weaves images and sound on to a screen to educate students on the many faces and forms of domestic violence.
"We are still finding that a number of professionals are not taking the time to ask the questions," said Amy Coha, Clinical Associate Professor at the School of Social Work at the University of New England. "If you don't ask the question, you will never know how many survivors you are working with."
According to the Maine Department of Public Safety, in 2008 19 of the 31 homicides in the state were related to domestic violence. "We are really talking about, when you screen for domestic violence and sexual assault, basically you are taking a major step in terms of homicide prevention, " stated Coha.
The play was presented as part of the school's annual winter symposium, which focuses on different ethical issues each year and works to engage students to have a better understanding of issues they will be faced with when they are out practicing in the community.
"The point is never the play," said Cathy Plourde, who created the play along with the staff at Add Verb Productions. "The point is having a play come into the community as a means of helping a community coordinate their local response, their resources and ultimately leave a community stronger than when we arrived."
If you, or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence and needs help, you can call the Domestic Violence Helpline at 1-866-834-4357 or visit the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence organization's web site by clicking here.
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