Self-Esteem: Rebuilding Self-Worth and Value in Survivors of Torture and Trauma through Higher Education
Publication: Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
21 April 2020
Abstract
This paper explores the role of an innovative trauma-informed, strengths-based education program designed to address barriers to education about the self-esteem and well-being of survivors of torture and/or war. Results show a statistically significant change in participants’ self-esteem measures. Qualitative data suggest that the participants perceived the program as a safe space that afforded social support and factual information about access to tertiary education. The program also reinforced participants’ sense of belonging and helped sustain their feelings of hope and motivation. Trauma-informed, strengths-based educational programming is a promising framework that can support survivor’s self-esteem, sense of identity, and successful resettlement.
Résumé
Le présent article propose une réflexion sur le rôle joué par un programme d’éducation axé sur le potentiel personnel qui tient compte des traumatismes vécus par les participants et qui est conçu pour surmonter les obstacles en matière d’enseignement de l’estime de soi et de l’apprentissage du bien-être chez les survivants de tortures ou de la guerre. Les résultats démontrent un changement statistiquement significatif en ce qui concerne les mesures d’estime de soi des participants. Les données qualitatives suggèrent que les participants ont perçu le programme comme un espace sûr qui leur a apporté un soutien social et de l’information factuelle sur l’accès à l’enseignement supérieur. Le programme a également renforcé le sentiment d’appartenance des participants et contribué à entretenir leurs espoirs et leurs motivations. Les programmes éducatifs axés sur le potentiel personnel qui tiennent compte des traumatismes vécus par les participants constituent un cadre prometteur susceptible de renforcer l’estime de soi et le sentiment identitaire des survivants et à même de concourir à leur réinstallation.
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Published In
Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health
Volume 38 • Number 4 • December 2019
Pages: 93 - 107
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Version of record online: 21 April 2020
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Jaswant Kaur Bajwa, Sean Kidd, Mulugeta Abai, Ibtissem Knouzi, Sidonia Couto, and Kwame McKenzie. 2019. Self-Esteem: Rebuilding Self-Worth and Value in Survivors of Torture and Trauma through Higher Education. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health.
38(4): 93-107. https://doi.org/10.7870/cjcmh-2019-021
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