Research Snapshot: Supporting Trauma Recovery in Adolescents Through Memory Training
Many adolescents living through war, violence, or other traumatic events in crisis-affected areas struggle with serious emotional distress. However, they have little access to mental health support. Both Afghanistan and Northern Iraq have large adolescent populations. Young people in these regions have been affected by conflict and insecurity, leading to high levels of trauma exposure and heightened psychological distress. Access to specialised care is often limited or unavailable.
This mixed-methods trial examined METRA (Memory Training for Recovery Adolescents), a short program designed for young people in humanitarian settings who have experienced trauma.
Randomised controlled trials in Afghanistan and Iraq found that METRA shows promise as a feasible and effective mental health intervention for adolescents who have experienced conflict, violence, or displacement. The intervention helps strengthen memory and thinking skills, which can improve mood, reduce post-traumatic stress symptoms, and support emotional healing after difficult experiences such as war, conflict and displacement. Delivered by trained community health workers, it can be integrated into existing health services at low cost. Further research is required to test METRA in diverse settings and inform health system integration.
This snapshot contains key messages, findings, implications for humanitarian policymakers and practitioners and recommendations for further research.
More information about this study can be found on the project profile.