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How does generational trauma shape the mental health of Liberian youth, and what role do risk factors, protective factors,and resilience play in this trajectory? What interventions would strengthen this resilience in Liberian youth?

Project Category:

Research & Innovation

The aim of this project is to examine the impact of generational trauma on the mental health of Liberian youth, with a focus on the protective and risk factors that shape their trajectory. An additional focus would be examining the role of resilience as a potential moderator or mediator, and studying how we can strengthen resilience in Liberian youth. I hope to use a combination of quantitative data and qualitative data, particular in the form of surveys and interviews with the community. I chose this topic because I have always been interested in the impact of generational trauma on mental health, as well as potential interventions that can promote healthy coping mechanisms. Many mental health issues have an early onset in adolescence, and many of these issues are shaped by trauma that has been passed down through generations. Liberian youth who never directly experienced the conflict of the country’s civil war are still significantly impacted by the experiences of their parents, community, elders, and even the current socio-political state of the country that has been shaped by the war. Understanding Liberian youth’s mental health challenges and the risk and protective factors contributing to their well-being is critical for developing preventative interventions and culturally sensitive treatment programs. The findings of this research will raise awareness on how we can promote the well-being of Liberian youth and decrease their risk of struggling with mental health issues.

Project Lead(s)

Fatemeh Mirhashemi

Key Objectives & Goals

I want to understand what factors influence the relationship between generational trauma and mental health in Liberian youth.

Since this research aims to examine the effects of the Liberian civil conflict on the generation that never directly experienced the war but experienced the aftermaths, the target age range would potentially be 15-20. Although this is ambitious, I hope to gather data from at least 50 participants (but ideally 100).

I hope to develop interventions that promote mental health, well-being, and community healing among Liberian youth.

Project Process & Activities

I will conduct both focus groups and individual interviews on the topic of mental health and generational trauma with ideally 100 participants. With the help of a community translator, I will then use behavioural coding methods to examine the interviews and find common themes or standout experiences. I will also use survey data to examine the demographics, prevalence of mental health issues, and common coping mechanisms among the youth. I hope to continue this research even after I leave Liberia. I plan on gaining ethics approvals and gathering data while in the country, and collaborating online with research supervisors to continue the research in Canada.

Project Outcomes & Deliverables

A research paper, a research poster, and hopefully presentations in different conferences.

Challenges & Learnings

What were the biggest challenges you faced, and what did you learn? You may not yet be ready to share this depending on the stage of your project’s development, however you can indicate any learnings you have had in establishing the project. You will be able to update this later.

Share any surprises, obstacles, or insights that helped shape your project.

Future Plans & How To Get Involved

I plan on continuing this project by collaborating with researchers on the ground in Liberia to gather data and increase my participant base from the initial 50-100. Phase one of my project involves getting a basic idea of what interventions already work and what interventions we can suggest for the youth’s mental health and coping with generational trauma. Since I plan on involving participants in the research, phase two of the project would involve developing new interventions based on the participant’s suggestions. I will then test the validity and reliability of these interventions and, one day, I hope to promote interventions that can truly help youth impacted by intergenerational trauma with their mental health.

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How does generational trauma shape the mental health of Liberian youth, and what role do risk factors, protective factors,and resilience play in this trajectory? What interventions would strengthen this resilience in Liberian youth?