A resilience building collaboration: A social identity empowerment approach to trauma management in leprosy-affected communities.

Abstract

Objectives: Communities affected by leprosy encounter multiple traumas and adversities and are some of the poorest in the world. A diagnosis of leprosy can have catastrophic implications for peoples social, health, and economic circumstances. In this article, we describe a reciprocal collaboration with a nongovernmental organization (NGO) that supports people affected by leprosy, trauma, and adversity in rural Nepal. We offer a social identity-based empowerment approach for two reasons. We argue this approach is particularly suited to support those impacted by trauma and its psychological aftermath as those affected are disproportionately from disempowered and marginalized groups. Second, we know that people gain strength from others with whom they share experiences. Method: We offer longitudinal data (N = 71) to support this model of a mutually respectful, participatory, and collaborative approach with the Nepal Leprosy Trust (NLT), a social development NGO. Results: Findings of mediation analysis highlight that where a traumatic experience is highly stigmatized and isolating there is value in a group-based, self-help approach that emphasizes empowerment. Conclusion: A group-based approach that focuses on increasing knowledge and collective social resources is empowering for those affected by leprosy and adversity, because these resources build resilience. Clinical Impact StatementBuilt on the understanding that trauma and resilience are group-based phenomena, we present a groupbased social identity empowerment approach that orients to social position, resources, and power. We describe a reciprocal collaboration with the Nepal Leprosy Trust (NLT), a social development nongovernmental organization working with impoverished, stigmatized, and traumatized leprosy affected communities in rural Nepal. NLT provide community outreach, using self-help groups with participatory, peer-to-peer learning. Our longitudinal research includes efforts to share empowering research capital with NLT. Results show that this group-based approach encourages shared social identity, which is the basis for learning, social participation, and psychological resilience.

The Social Psychology of Trauma

“…Over and above this, these group-based connections mitigate stigma and enhance solidarity and empowerment amongst those affected by leprosy (Jay et al, 2021;Muldoon et al, 2020). Taken together, our evidence suggests that these small group contexts offer identity resources to reduce stigma-related harm and promoted resilience over at least a six-month time span (Jay et al, 2022), Disempowerment and stigma are also associated with being a victim of sexual violence. Stigmatised trauma can damage interpersonal relations and community connections and fundamentally challenge people's sense of their own autonomy.…”

“…On the other hand, it would also seem that solidarity with others in the wake of traumatic violence can counter some of these effects. The potential for the damaging and debilitating responses to traumatic events to be attenuated by a sense of connection and solidarity is an increasingly prevalent theme in the psychological literature (Jay et al, 2022). (Mis)trust and solidarity have important social and political consequences too.…”

“…We can use the knowledge of how systems failures, social betrayal and shame and injustice compound the experience of those who have experienced trauma. This offers the potential for new interventions oriented to destigmatising, empowering and connecting vulnerable populations in support of healthy and positive social change (Jay et al, 2022). Though in its infancy, we are trialling this idea and collecting evidence of the value of this approach to people's mental and physical health in the wake of trauma in our new research (see https://growth-ul.wixsite.com/psychology).…”

“…We know that there is mental health benefit for members of a national group when their football team does well in international matches (VonScheve et al, 2014). Equally, if we are a member of a group that is shamed, negative feelings can ensue (Jay et al, 2022). Building on this existing literature in social psychology and sociology, a growing body of research has highlighted identity concerns as primary drivers of beliefs and behaviours related to both mental and physical health (Haslam et al, 2009).…”

Leprosy Classification, Clinical Features, Epidemiology, and Host Immunological Responses: Failure of Eradication in 2023

“…There are a small number of cases in which leprosy lesions have been recorded after a thorn prick tattooing, vaccination injury or during dressing in a leprosy hospital, or any injury via a surgeon handling the leprosy patients [ 39 ].…”