Acute Distress States
There is a surge in mental health challenges globally, significantly impacting individuals of all ages, affecting their health, well-being, and overall prosperity. This concerning trend is fueled by the unmet needs of individuals and communities grappling with traumatic events, ranging from extreme weather conditions driven by climate change (such as floods, forest fires, and extreme heat) to interpersonal incidents (such as violence and sexual assault) and other events like transportation and workplace accidents. These traumatic events disproportionately affect vulnerable groups, including racial and ethnic minorities, migrant populations, and communities facing higher rates of poverty.
The EMPOWER Intervention
EMPOWER is committed to addressing the unmet mental health needs resulting from traumatic experiences. Our primary goal is to develop a single-session solution for peritraumatic stress, targeting immediate relief and long-term resilience. Early single session encounters have proven to not only be effective but have demonstrated sustained benefits for addressing psychological distress among youth, and supporting individuals who have experienced trauma.
This intervention aims to address both the anticipated and experienced peritraumatic stress reactions to mitigate the development of post-trauma related mental health challenges, with a focus on community-level engagement and support.
EMPOWER aims to make a groundbreaking impact through our early intervention solution by:
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Offering a timely response to traumatic experiences
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Equipping community members with skills to support early recovery
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Addressing barriers to mental health care, such as stigma and cost
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Building community resilience