This pilot study is a 12-week mental health intervention designed to enhance emotional awareness and regulation skills among adults. Central to this intervention is the cultivation of a key personal life habit: the ability to observe and understand one’s emotions from a compassionate perspective and to manage them more effectively. The program integrates principles from Internal Family Systems Therapy, Non-Violent Communication, and Positive Psychology, aiming to provide participants with practical, experiential learning opportunities through psychodrama role play.
The intervention will be conducted in Eastern Uganda, a region with a history of conflict and socio-economic challenges, underscoring the need for accessible mental health support. The primary outcome measures include improved well-being (assessed by the WHO-5 Well-Being Index and the Cantril Self-Anchoring Striving Scale), enhanced mental health status (measured using the SRQ-20), and increased heart rate variability (HRV), indicating better emotional regulation. Secondary outcomes focus on the participants' engagement, adherence to the program, and qualitative feedback on their experiences.