Helen Teresa (Trez) Buckland PhD, MEd

Helen Teresa “Trez” Buckland, PhD, MEd, is a retired middle school and high school educator, counselor, university educator (undergraduate and graduate levels in Nursing and Public Health at UW), continuing education specialist and program manager at the UW School of Nursing.

Trez explored the meaning of happiness for young adults with psychotic disorders as her dissertation topic (UW School of Nursing 2009). After graduating she was awarded a grant to conduct research to inform the creation of social support groups for young adults with psychotic disorders. This group has been running weekly since 2010 and has expanded to include parents and peers as facilitators.

Trez is a volunteer for the National Alliance on Mental Illness Washington State (trainer for Ending the Silence, Family Support Groups and Smarts for Advocacy) and for NAMI Seattle (family support group leader and social support group leader for young adults with mental health conditions).

In 2019 Trez registered for the Psychosis Reach in-person training and has been an avid supporter of this program ever since. Currently she runs a couple Family Ambassador groups and continues to practice FIRST Skills and self-care, as well as continually building her circle of support. Trez’s adult son, 40 years of age, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia at 16 and who is in recovery, has overcome addictions and is an active partner with her in practicing the FIRST Skills and helping others communicate more effectively with individuals who experience psychosis.