Rebuilding Emotional Stability and Strength Through Therapeutic and Life-Skills Education for Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria (RESETTLE-IDPs): A Hybrid Type II effectiveness-implementation study

Over 3 million people have been displaced within Nigeria due to conflicts and climate crises. These internally displaced persons (IDPs) have often experienced trauma and upheaval, now living in crowded camps with very limited resources and support. This has led to a mental health emergency - high levels of conditions like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder among IDPs. Many also face daily struggles meeting basic needs, gender-based violence, unemployment, and lack of education access which erodes hope. Our project aims to respond to this crisis through an intervention called RESETTLE-IDPs which will deliver life skills education and support groups to IDPs using both in-person and mobile technology platforms. Life skills training will equip IDPs with critical knowledge and capacities around communication, managing emotions, problem solving, advocacy, health practices, and more tailored to their displacement experiences and cultural context. This aims to improve their mental health, functioning, and skills to take charge of improving their own wellbeing despite the challenges. We will co-design the program with IDPs to ensure it meets their needs and priorities. Local facilitators will be trained to deliver the life skills groups in a supportive way. RESETTLE-IDPs is unique in holistically addressing mental health and capacity as foundations for IDPs to sustainably thrive and integrate into their host communities, rather than just providing short-term relief aid. The project will rigorously assess whether the mobile approach can be just as impactful as in-person groups, allowing support to those in remote camps. We will also evaluate the feasibility and costs to inform scaling and integration into national policies to sustain IDP mental health promotion long-term. Most importantly, RESETTLE-IDPs will empower IDPs as changemakers in creating more just, equitable communities during displacement crises.