The Achilles Initiative
The Achilles Initiative increases the resilience of people working in conflict zones.
The mental-health issues and stress-related staff turnover and loss of efficiency associated with working in areas of conflict can be dramatically reduced through appropriate training. We have developed a practical resilience programme and are making it available to those who need it. This includes Armed Forces personnel, journalists and NGO workers. The Achilles training program is multi-disciplinary drawing from the evidence-base currently available (including our own initial research), best practice worldwide (we are in touch with experts in the US and Israel for example) and our own leading-edge research. It is taught by subject matter experts who also have relevant personal and professional experience to build the resilience of organisations.
Achilles Update
After two years in development, the initiative team has designed the most complete resilience training program in the world, has trialed it in the UK and Sierra Leone and is currently looking for partner organisations working in areas of conflict to deliver it with and conduct further research.
Achilles Project Time-line
Phase 1 - 2010 - COMPLETE
- A team of dedicated subject matter expert non-partisan volunteers was assembled
- Information and research gathered from leading resilience, stress and trauma experts, academic institutions, armed forces and NGOs from UK, US, Netherlands, Australia and Israel.
- Relationships were built with future partner organisations
- A practical, integral there-day training programme was developed
Phase 2 - 2011
- Trials were held in Sierra Leone and the UK
- Initial survey data was gathered indicating the need for resilience training (employers see performance, retention and health drop due to trauma)
- Continuing to build relationships and now actively seeking partner organisations
Phase 3 - 2012 Plan
- Obtain funding for large-scale training and delivery
- Train further instructors in Achilles
The Achilles Initiative is part of Integration Training's corporate social responsibility meaning that it is a social enterprise and not primarily a profit-making venture. This page is hosted by the Integration Training website but IT should be viewed as a separate entity.
Outline of Key Elements in Achilles Training
The main Achilles Initiative training is an intensive three-day course conducted on client organisation premises or other suitable training facilities. This training however is embedded in a longer bespoke process of consultation and organisational development, an example of which is given below:
-
Sample Timeline
- 3 months prior to training - consultation with partner organisation
- this may result in new structures or procedures being put in place, local "champions" identified and research into existing norms within the organisation in order to adapt training
- 1 month prior - pre-course questionnaires and participants assessment. Bespoke training design
- 3 day (20 hour) training
- 6 months mission - staff in field applying training, Achilles staff continue to support organisation applying resilience related protocols (e.g. watchful waiting)
- within two weeks of returning - 1 day refresher and feedback session
- Psychoeducation
- Physical (sensory-motor) state management and defusing skills
- CBT
- Communication skills training
- Mindfulness
- Organisational structures and procedures
- Cultural change and psycho-social approaches
Key Elements of Achilles
The Achilles initiative is unique in that in takes a fully integral approach, combining the best evidence based techniques currently available to build resilience. These are always adapted to the unique conditions in partner organisations and include the following key elements:
The training is highly interactive (trainers never talk for more than 20 minutes at a time) and stresses organisational relevance and real-world application. A large part of the course concerns practice, embedding skills and graded exposure to controlled stimuli applying skills to build resilience. The trainings are suitable for participants of various learning styles (e.g. those who may not normally enjoy class-room based learning) and have high staff ratios, including in every instance a staff member with relevant personal experience who participants can relate to and a qualified psychotherapist.
Development and Advisory Board
Margaret Bridges - Ex staff welfare manager SE Coast Ambulance Service
James Clifton - Integrative Psychotherapist and counsellor (UKCP accredited), ex head of an NGO active in conflict in the Balkans
Caroline Jaine - Former diplomat, specialism in communications and conflict environments, trainer and advisor. TRIM trained, Iraq experience
Barbara Goodfellow - ASSIST Trauma care
Roger Mills - Trauma psychologist, EMDR, counsellor, CBT, depth psychology
Professor Sally Munt - Sussex University, researching trauma, CBT, refugees and culture
Clare Myatt - Therapist, trauma specialist and somatic educator
Karen Sherlock - NGO consultant and psycho-social researcher (Bristol University)
Marleen van Klingeren - Researcher in psychological care for NGO staff, civil-military cooperation, Afghanistan and Liberia experience (Netherlands based)
Mark Walsh (Coordinator) - Stress management consultant, Bsc (hons) Psychology, NGO experience in conflict zones
(Others are involved worldwide including other academics, military advisors and therapists)
