EAI recently convened a workshop in Abuja in partnership with the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) as part of the Securing Nigerian Communities (SNC) project. The three-day workshop focused on destigmatizing trauma through the lens of Faith and Trauma Sensitive Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) for Traditional and Religious Leaders. Participants represented each of the SNC project states of Benue, Kaduna, Kano, and Plateau. Following this training, these 36 Community Champions will return to their communities and share their learnings, expanding the impact and reaching a broader audience.

EAI integrates Community-Based Trauma Interventions in its activities as part of the SNC project to support the target communities in achieving community resilience. When trust, healthy relationships, and mental well-being are threatened, tensions are exacerbated, which can fuel a desire for revenge that often leads to further traumatization.

The SNC project has trained 46 Psychosocial First Aiders and established 22 Trauma Listening Centers to help individuals and groups process their feelings of vulnerability and victimhood. This is particularly challenging given that the stigma surrounding mental health and trauma across the SNC states is pervasive, and often discourages those in need from seeking help. This USIP/EAI workshop is empowering these Community Champions with the tools they need to help destigmatize these taboos in their own communities and build trust and resilience, supporting a safer, more secure Nigeria.