Abstract
Study Objectives
Effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the negative impacts across the life-course are well documented. Exposure to adversities, can impact upon the wellbeing of both the person who experienced them and their offspring, resulting in a transgenerational cycle. Research has shown that childhood trauma and adversity, and parental trauma are major predisposing factors for many adolescent mental illnesses, self-harm, and suicidality. Correspondingly, the harmful effects of trauma and adversity, may compound and increase maladaptive outcomes later in life, including suicidal behaviours. Suicide continues to be a leading cause of death worldwide and a significant public health issue. Research has suggested that building resilience may help reduce risk among those at high-risk of suicide and across the general population. Therefore, building resilience at a population level has the capacity to reduce the likelihood of a host of stress-related disorders and, consequently, suicidal behaviours. This study aims to evaluate evidence-based resilience-and peace building interventions by engaging children, young people, and their key contacts, in activities which build emotional resilience, self-awareness, and emotional regulation.
Methods and Materials
A mixed method design will assess the impact of the OUR Generation intervention programmes on 31,100 children and young people, and 4,900 key contacts across Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland border counties. Multiple levels of analysis will be conducted to understand the factors that influence outcomes for children, young people, and their key contacts. Evaluations will evidence changes in attitudes, knowledge, behaviours, and skills on 7 key indicators known to contribute to emotional resilience and peacebuilding, including empathy, intergroup trust, mental health and well-being, perspective-taking, outgroup attitudes, intergroup contact and coping and problem-solving.
Results and Conclusion
Evidence illustrates that resilience training and interventions, primarily those focused on problem-solving, coping skills, empathy, and perspective-taking, can work to support a decrease in psychological distress and increase resilience. It is, therefore, important to advance the development of interventions for building and enhancing resilience. Broadening assessment of interventions beyond mental health measures, and one population, can potentially illuminate specific avenues and recognise the risk and protective factors that contribute to the differential outcomes.
Effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the negative impacts across the life-course are well documented. Exposure to adversities, can impact upon the wellbeing of both the person who experienced them and their offspring, resulting in a transgenerational cycle. Research has shown that childhood trauma and adversity, and parental trauma are major predisposing factors for many adolescent mental illnesses, self-harm, and suicidality. Correspondingly, the harmful effects of trauma and adversity, may compound and increase maladaptive outcomes later in life, including suicidal behaviours. Suicide continues to be a leading cause of death worldwide and a significant public health issue. Research has suggested that building resilience may help reduce risk among those at high-risk of suicide and across the general population. Therefore, building resilience at a population level has the capacity to reduce the likelihood of a host of stress-related disorders and, consequently, suicidal behaviours. This study aims to evaluate evidence-based resilience-and peace building interventions by engaging children, young people, and their key contacts, in activities which build emotional resilience, self-awareness, and emotional regulation.
Methods and Materials
A mixed method design will assess the impact of the OUR Generation intervention programmes on 31,100 children and young people, and 4,900 key contacts across Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland border counties. Multiple levels of analysis will be conducted to understand the factors that influence outcomes for children, young people, and their key contacts. Evaluations will evidence changes in attitudes, knowledge, behaviours, and skills on 7 key indicators known to contribute to emotional resilience and peacebuilding, including empathy, intergroup trust, mental health and well-being, perspective-taking, outgroup attitudes, intergroup contact and coping and problem-solving.
Results and Conclusion
Evidence illustrates that resilience training and interventions, primarily those focused on problem-solving, coping skills, empathy, and perspective-taking, can work to support a decrease in psychological distress and increase resilience. It is, therefore, important to advance the development of interventions for building and enhancing resilience. Broadening assessment of interventions beyond mental health measures, and one population, can potentially illuminate specific avenues and recognise the risk and protective factors that contribute to the differential outcomes.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published (in print/issue) - 24 Aug 2022 |
| Event | 19th European Symposium For Suicide and Suicidal Behaviours - Copenhagen, Denmark Duration: 24 Aug 2022 → 27 Aug 2022 |
Conference
| Conference | 19th European Symposium For Suicide and Suicidal Behaviours |
|---|---|
| City | Denmark |
| Period | 24/08/22 → 27/08/22 |
