Eleison is excited to announce that we have officially completed data collection for our new research study, entitled Project Luwas. Project Luwas is a qualitative study that explores crisis intervention services among survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) in Cebu, Philippines. We interviewed 12 survivors who have participated in Eleison’s crisis intervention services to better understand the recommendations of GBV survivors on how to improve crisis intervention services for both suicidal ideation and behavior and GBV.
These interviews provide incredibly important insight for the sector on how to strengthen crisis intervention services for people who are experiencing both violence and suicidal ideation and behavior at the same time. GBV, including intimate partner violence (IPV), is a significant issue in the Philippines. A national study in 2018 found that 25% of ever-married women under age 50 in the Philippines have experienced IPV; these rates are likely underestimates. IPV is linked to adverse mental health effects, including suicidal ideation and behavior.For example, research has found that over 50% of human trafficking survivors report having suicidal thoughts and over 40% have ever tried to kill themselves. Project Luwas provides Eleison crucial data that will inform the development of an integrated intervention that addresses both suicidal ideation and behavior and GBV concurrently.
We express our heartfelt thanks to our collaborators on this project, Dr. Tina Jiwatram-Negron and Dr. Ran Hu, who are both members of Eleison’s Advisory Board. Dr. Jiwatram-Negron is an Associate Professor at Arizona State University’s School of Social Work. Her research focuses on GBV and associated health and mental health disparities, along with community-engaged intervention development within the U.S. context and internationally. Dr. Ran Hu is an Assistant Professor at Ohio State University, where she is working to examine the inequities that contribute to GBV, particularly in the contexts of sex work and human trafficking.
This project reflects Eleison’s ongoing commitment to prioritizing survivors’ voices and feedback in our work to increase and improve mental healthcare for survivors. We look forward to starting data analysis as our next step in Project Luwas.
