RESETTLE-IDPs: Life-Skills Education and Psychosocial Resilience Building for Displaced Nigerians

The RESETTLE-IDPs study aims to address the urgent mental health needs of internally displaced youth and women in Nigeria, who face high rates of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress due to exposure to conflict, violence, and loss. Despite the immense needs, there is a severe lack of culturally appropriate, evidence-based interventions to support the resilience and well-being of these vulnerable populations.

To fill this gap, the study will evaluate the effectiveness and implementation of a novel life skills education (LSE) program delivered through two innovative approaches: in-person peer support groups and WhatsApp-based virtual support groups. The LSE curriculum, developed through extensive community engagement, covers topics such as stress management, communication, problem-solving, health, safety, and advocacy, all tailored to the unique challenges of displacement.

In the in-person arm, trained IDP peers and local providers will facilitate weekly group sessions over 12 weeks, providing a safe space for participants to learn, practice, and apply new skills while building social connections and support networks. In the WhatsApp arm, participants will receive weekly messages with educational content, reflection prompts, and exercises, moderated by trained facilitators to foster dialogue and peer support.

By comparing these two delivery methods, the study aims to identify the most feasible, acceptable, and effective strategies for rolling out psychosocial support interventions in humanitarian settings, particularly those with limited resources and access. The study will also assess the interventions' impact on key mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and well-being, as well as life skills, functioning, and implementation metrics such as reach, adoption, and sustainability.

Ultimately, the RESETTLE-IDPs study seeks to generate actionable evidence to inform the development and scale-up of culturally responsive, community-driven interventions that can promote the mental health and resilience of conflict-affected populations in Nigeria and beyond. By empowering IDP youth and women with the knowledge, skills, and support to navigate the challenges of displacement, the study aims to contribute to a brighter, more hopeful future for these resilient communities

The RESETTLE-IDPs study is a cluster-randomized type II effectiveness-implementation hybrid trial that aims to evaluate the effectiveness and implementation of a life skills education (LSE) intervention delivered through two innovative approaches - in-person peer support groups and WhatsApp-based virtual support groups - to improve the mental health and well-being of internally displaced persons in Nigeria.

Background and Rationale:

Nigeria is facing a severe humanitarian crisis, with over 2.7 million people internally displaced due to armed conflict, communal violence, and natural disasters. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria, particularly youth and women, are at high risk of mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to exposure to trauma, loss, and ongoing stressors. Despite the immense needs, there is a severe lack of culturally appropriate, evidence-based interventions to support the mental health and resilience of IDP populations in Nigeria and other low-resource humanitarian settings.

Life skills education (LSE) is a promising approach to promoting mental health and well-being among conflict-affected populations. LSE programs aim to equip individuals with the knowledge, attitudes, and skills needed to navigate challenges, cope with stress, and make healthy decisions. Previous studies have shown that LSE interventions can improve mental health outcomes, social-emotional learning, and positive youth development in various contexts. However, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness and implementation of LSE programs specifically tailored for IDP youth and women in Nigeria, and how different delivery methods (e.g., in-person vs. mobile-based) may impact their reach, acceptability, and sustainability.

Study Objectives:

The primary objective of the RESETTLE-IDPs study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a 12-week LSE intervention, delivered through either in-person peer support groups or WhatsApp-based virtual support groups, on mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, PTSD, and well-being) among IDP youth and women in Nigeria, compared to a wait-list control group.

Secondary objectives include:

1. To assess the impact of the LSE intervention on life skills acquisition, daily functioning, and social support among IDP youth and women.
2. To compare the feasibility, acceptability, fidelity, and cost-effectiveness of in-person vs. WhatsApp-based delivery methods for the LSE intervention.
3. To explore the contextual factors, implementation processes, and mechanisms of change that influence the effectiveness and sustainability of the LSE intervention in IDP settings.
4. To engage stakeholders (IDP communities, health workers, humanitarian organizations, policymakers) in the design, implementation, and evaluation of the LSE intervention to promote its cultural relevance, ownership, and scalability.

Methods: The study will use a three-arm cluster-randomized controlled trial design, with IDP camps in Nigeria randomly allocated to one of two groups: (1) in-person LSE peer support groups, (2) WhatsApp-based LSE virtual support groups. The target population includes IDPs youth aged 13 years and above residing in selected camps in Borno State, the epicenter of the Boko Haram insurgency and displacement crisis in Nigeria.

The intervention will consist of a culturally adapted LSE curriculum covering topics such as stress management, communication skills, problem-solving, health and hygiene, safety and protection, gender norms, and community mobilization. The curriculum will be developed through a participatory process involving IDP youth and women, community leaders, health workers, and education specialists, drawing on existing evidence-based resources and guidelines (e.g. UNICEF LSE Toolkit).

In the in-person arm, trained IDP peers and local providers will facilitate weekly gender- and age-segregated support groups of 10-12 participants over a 12-week period. The groups will provide a safe space for participants to learn and practice life skills, share experiences, and provide mutual support. Sessions will use interactive, experiential learning methods such as role-plays, discussions, and group projects.

In the WhatsApp arm, participants will be enrolled in moderated virtual support groups that deliver the LSE curriculum through weekly conversations, including psychoeducational content, reflection prompts, skill-building exercises, and peer discussion topics. Trained IDP facilitators will moderate the groups to ensure safe and supportive interactions, provide feedback, and encourage skill application.

The study will enroll a total of 500 participants (250 per arm) across 20 IDP camps, with an estimated 25 participants per camp. Participants will be recruited through community-based mobilization strategies, with support from camp leaders, health workers, and NGO partners.

Data will be collected at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitative data will include validated mental health scales, as well as locally adapted measures of life skills, functioning, and social support. Qualitative data will include in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with participants, facilitators, and stakeholders to explore experiences, perceptions, and contextual factors influencing the intervention.

Data analysis will use an intent-to-treat approach, with mixed-effects regression models to assess intervention effects on primary and secondary outcomes, accounting for clustering at the camp level. Qualitative data will be analyzed thematically to identify barriers, facilitators, and mechanisms of change. Implementation outcomes (e.g., reach, fidelity, acceptability) will be assessed using process evaluation frameworks (e.g., RE-AIM).

Expected Results and Impact:

The RESETTLE-IDPs study aims to generate rigorous evidence on the effectiveness and implementation of a culturally adapted LSE intervention for improving the mental health and well-being of IDP youth and women in Nigeria. The study findings will have important implications for the design, delivery, and scale-up of psychosocial support interventions in humanitarian settings, particularly those affected by conflict and displacement.

By comparing in-person and WhatsApp-based delivery methods, the study will provide valuable insights into the relative advantages, challenges, and effectiveness of different approaches to reaching and engaging IDP populations. The use of implementation science frameworks and participatory research methods will ensure that the intervention is not only effective but also feasible, acceptable, and sustainable in real-world contexts.

The study will also contribute to capacity-building and empowerment of IDP communities by training and engaging youth and women as peer facilitators, researchers, and advocates. The participatory approach aims to foster local ownership, leadership, and sustainability of the intervention beyond the research period.

Ultimately, the RESETTLE-IDPs study has the potential to inform policy, practice, and funding priorities for mental health and psychosocial support in humanitarian settings, both in Nigeria and globally. By advancing the evidence base on culturally relevant, community-based interventions, the study can contribute to reducing the global burden of mental health disorders and promoting the resilience and well-being of conflict-affected populations.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Aged 13 years and above
* Ownership of smartphone
* Internally displaced for at least 6 months.
* Residing in select IDP camps in Abuja and Borno State, Nigeria
* Fluency in English and/or Hausa languages
* Willing and able to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Active suicidal ideation or attempts (i.e having thoughts, plans, or intent to end one\&#39;s life within the past month)
* Active psychosis
* Cognitive impairment precluding informed consent or survey completion.
* Not owning as smartphone