NIRBAN: Enabling Self Mental Health Care for the July Uprising Survivors
'NIRBAN: Enabling Self Mental Health Care for the July Uprising survivors in Bangladesh is a crucial, trauma-informed initiative launched by the Songjog Foundation in collaboration with the Sofron Foundation. In the aftermath of the widespread civil unrest and significant violence witnessed in July 2024, this project responds directly to the profound and anticipated surge in mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), among affected communities. NIRBAN is designed not just for counseling but for empowerment, equipping the heroes and survivors of the uprising with essential tools and strategies for self-care, mental health resilience, and community support.
Facilitating Healing and Resilience Post-Trauma
The core mission of the NIRBAN project is to address the psychological trauma inflicted during the July Uprising and build sustainable mental health capacity within the affected communities. We aim to:
Acknowledge and Validate Trauma
Create a safe, supportive space for participants to recognize and process their experiences and subsequent psychological impacts.
Build Community Resilience
Foster strong support networks where participants can facilitate collective healing and become peer support agents.
Empower Self-Care
Equip individuals with practical coping mechanisms and self-soothing strategies to manage symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
Advocate for Mental Health
Raise awareness about the hidden costs of trauma and advocate for better, accessible long-term mental health services in Bangladesh.
The program utilizes an interactive, capacity-building approach focused on empowering the participants to become their own first line of mental health defense:
Interactive Psychoeducation
Sessions designed to demystify mental health issues, normalize trauma reactions, and reduce the stigma associated with seeking help.
Skills-Based Workshops
Practical training focused on immediate coping mechanisms, stress reduction techniques (e.g., mindfulness, grounding exercises), and emotional regulation strategies.
Peer Support Network Development
Facilitated sessions dedicated to building and activating internal community support systems for ongoing, localized mental health care.
Resource Dissemination
Providing accessible, context-appropriate materials (both digital and physical) on self-care and mental health first aid.