Mental Health and Trauma

Harvard Chan, in collaboration with the Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation (KSCF), is developing evidence-based and trauma-informed educational videos for children rescued from child labor. This initiative is led by Dr. Bizu Gelaye, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at Harvard Chan, and Ms. Vinni Bhandari, CEO of OnRamp and Project Advisor to KSCF. The design support is being provided by Medical Aid Films, UK, with additional support from Elizabeth J. Levey, MD, Child, Adolescent & Adult Psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital, and Dr. Alexandra Harrison, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and Cambridge Health Alliance. Academic insights are also contributed by Dr. Kerry Ressler, Chief Scientific Officer at McLean Hospital and Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

The project has supported the creation of a video series “A Brighter Future”, four animated films that will support the rehabilitation of children at centers run by the KSCF, helping them make positive steps towards the future. The animations focus on former child labourers and feature important messages around overcoming past trauma, rediscovering childhood, learning to play with others, self-care, equality, and the importance of education as one of the most fundamental tools in breaking cycles of exploitation. The videos addressing the children explore the following themes:

1. You have not done anything wrong; you are not the victim. You are now safe.

2. Learn to respect yourself.

3. Learn to laugh/enjoy childhood and learn that going to school is a human right., 

To enhance the effectiveness of the animated videos, Harvard faculty are designing training protocols for caregivers and a rigorous evaluation program to study the extent to which the animated videos reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD and improve self-confidence among children. The team has prepared an 8-session training program that will provide the caregivers with the necessary skills to understand and respond to the children’s reactions and provide them with resources to deal with their own experiences of trauma. Modules delve into the science behind the brain’s response to severe childhood trauma, the importance of strength-based and trauma-informed practical approaches and tools, and self-care.

The training modules were delivered from January to February 2024 via the Harvard Canvas platform, with weekly sessions on Zoom and at the Bal Ashram in Viratnagar, Rajasthan. The 8-week training concluded with a visit to the Bal Ashram, with the final 2 sessions conducted in person along with a screening of the films.

“A Brighter Future” Series:

An introduction to “A Brighter Future” series provided by Dean Michelle Williams, Dean of Faculty, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health:

Training and Interaction at the Bal Ashram