Pathways to Resilience III: Beyond Nature vs. Nurture

Community Based Resilience:

Abstract #91
A Community-Driven Youth Mental Healthcare Project In Kashmir, India
Presenter: Srividya Iyer
Abstract:
This presentation outlines a community-driven youth mental healthcare project in Kashmir, India. The Kashmir conflict, simmering since India’s postcolonial partition, has intensified since 1989. In addition to socioeconomic devastation and displacement, this conflict has precipitated a 30-fold increase in the anecdotally observed incidence of mental illness. The situation is exacerbated by the virtual absence of state-provided mental healthcare and the Kashmir valley’s geopolitical isolation. On the credit side of the equation are the adversity-forged resilience of Kashmir’s people; the density of their familial and communal networks; their generally high levels of education; and the growth of geography-defying telecommunication technologies in India. Our Grand Challenges Canada project uses these strengths to provide mental healthcare to youths (aged 14-30) in Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. The project earned its social licence through early engagement with culturally significant leaders (village elders, imams, etc.). Its innovative, low-cost model entails training lay community mental health workers to identify needs, provide basic services and promote awareness. Geographical barriers are surmounted by using a vehicle-mounted mobile clinic and inexpensive telecommunication technologies for training and consultations. Using extant sociocultural resources and resiliencies to minimize costs and maximize impact, the project thus provides much-needed primary mental healthcare to an underserved population.

Abstract #148
Community Engagement To Identify Community Resilience Policy Options: Deliberative Polling In Uganda: A Case for Bududa And Butalejja Districts
Presenter:  Kathleen Giles Co-presenters: Bazeyo William, Fishkin James, Roy William Mayega, Lynn Atuyambe, Julius Ssentongo
Abstract:
Background: Multiple people in Uganda are increasingly at risk for adverse climate events with Albertine, Teso and Mt.Elgon regions reporting a high risk. There are recurrent climatic events that have rendered the same damage to livelihoods and infrastructure despite predictability, millions of aid in response and attempts at mitigation which implies wide-scale lack of resilience and negative coping. Objective: To determine whether community opinions on key policy options (Land management, Resettlement management and Population pressure) can change when better informed about policy. Methodology: Using a Deliberative Polling® approach a random representative sample was selected and a baseline opinion poll on selected policy issues conducted in Bududa and Butalejja districts. The same sample was invited to a facilitated deliberation on these policy issues and thereafter, a post deliberation opinion poll conducted. Policy options were rated on an ordinal scale ranging from zero (Unimportant) to ten (Extremely important) and statistical differences in means tested using t-test.Results: Fifteen of 36 policy options changed with deliberation and changes were in the direction of increased support for policy optionsConclusion: Community opinions about policy can change with sufficient participatory dialogue and policy process can be greatly enhanced by employing a bottom-up approach.