In June 2022, Eleison launched a new mental health intervention called Healing and Resilience after Trauma (HaRT). HaRT is a 12-week group mental health program incorporating mindfulness, mind-body practices, and supportive group discussions. The program explores three core themes: 1) safety in the body, 2) radical self-love, and 3) healthy relationships.
Survivors of human trafficking commonly suffer from depression, anxiety, stress, self-harm, suicidal ideation and behavior, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Mental health services are often inaccessible and intimidating for survivors, particularly in cultural contexts in which mental health care is highly stigmatized. HaRT addresses an urgent need in the anti-human trafficking sector to provide accessible, community-based, and culturally-responsive mental health programming that has been specifically designed for survivors. HaRT is also a low-tech, survivor-centered intervention that can be implemented by non-mental health professionals.
The HaRT intervention was originally developed by Healing and Resilience after Trauma for implementation with survivors of human trafficking in Uganda. An evaluation of the HaRT program in Uganda found that survivors who participated in the program experienced reductions in symptoms of PTSD, depression, and anxiety compared to survivors who did not participate, as well as greater self-compassion, sense of belonging, connection to peers, and relaxation in the body.
To prepare for the launch of HaRT in the Philippines, in early 2021 Eleison provided HaRT with a grant and technical assistance to revise their intervention curriculum integrating survivor feedback and research evaluation findings. Additionally, Eleison collaborated with HaRT to pilot the intervention with service providers in the Philippines, conducting research in 2021 around how the intervention should be adapted for the cultural context and specific client population. The intervention was revised for the Filipino cultural context based upon research findings – to prepare for the launch of HaRT with Eleison clients.
In addition to launching HaRT with survivors in the Philippines in June 2022, Eleison, HaRT, and the University of Alabama are currently conducting a research evaluation exploring the impact of the program upon survivors’ mental health and social wellbeing. The program will be piloted and evaluated with three cohorts of survivors to understand the impact of the intervention over time.
If you’re interested in the HaRT program, you can contact us at info@eleisonfoundation.org or donate here.
