Natasha Donnelly is an RN, completed her training as a Registered Midwife, has a post-graduate certificate in Education for Higher Education students, and a Sociologist with a Ph.D. in Suicide Prevention. Natasha has been actively involved as part of the healthcare team, advocate, researcher and educator in mental health settings for many years at Juvenile Justice and Psychiatric Facilities working with at-risk populations in England, Africa and now the USA. Natasha has been involved with suicide prevention since 2000. Her international work included being an Adviser for the First Suicide Prevention Strategy for England. Natasha received a Department of Health Section 64 Grant and founded the UK mental health charity Students in Mind.

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Natasha has been an active collaborator in many statewide multi-disciplinary initiatives in North Carolina. In 2002, Natasha received The Mind Millenium Fellowship, a lifetime achievement award by the Millenium Commission, for her work in the field researching mental health issues, suicide prevention and strategies for young people. In 2003, she received The Star People and the Scarman Trust Awards for her work with young people living with mental health issues. Natasha is passionate about designing initiatives to promote Trauma-Focused care and has been involved in therapeutic designs of indoor and outdoor spaces since 2004.

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In 2014 Natasha began researching the concept of Trauma-Focused Sensory Gardens and in 2016 took the idea to Juvenile Justice! In 2017 Natasha approached NC State University and was directed to Anne Spafford and her students. They joined the project to add horticultural expertise to North Carolina’s first Trauma-Focused Therapeutic Garden for Juvenile Justice settings. Natasha is proud to be a Board Member of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and an advisor for the Legacy Committee for the new Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh, NC.

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Talk Title: Trauma-Informed Environments for Emotional Sustainability

An introduction to spaces designed using trauma-informed research to introduce the user to resiliency skills which will connect them to the here and now. We will share how these spaces promote a sense of safety, calming, a sense of self and community interest, connectedness and hope. Examples of using these spaces provide us all with skills to assist with day to day emotional sustainability. The development of the State’s first TFTC Garden model.