Attachments
This report outlines the findings of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) that assessed how effectively Resilience-oriented therapy (ROT) enhances emotional resilience and recovery from trauma. ROT is a programme protocol launched by Interpeace in collaboration with Prison Fellowship Rwanda, Haguruka, and Dignity in Detention. The programme was implemented with the support of the Rwandan government and financed by the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida). The RCT tested and measured ROT’s impact. The findings revealed its strong effectiveness in addressing mental health issues related to emotional regulation, identity development, and behavioural self-management as well as strengthening individual psychological resilience. The comparison between pre- and post-invention data demonstrated that depression rates dropped from 8.1 (22.5%) to 2.9 (8%), anxiety from 13.4 (33.5%) to 6.3 (15.7%), and borderline personality disorders from 4.5 (11.3%) to 2.6 (6.5%) among treatment group members.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report outlines the findings of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) that assessed how effectively resilience-oriented therapy (ROT) enhances emotional resilience and recovery from trauma. ROT is a programme protocol launched by Interpeace in collaboration with Prison Fellowship Rwanda, Haguruka, and Dignity in Detention. The programme was implemented with the support of the Rwandan government and financed by the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida). The RCT tested and measured ROT’s impact.
BACKGROUND
The 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda left the country grappling with profound social and psychological trauma. Over one million lives were lost, and the destruction of Rwanda's social fabric and institutions created a generational impact on mental health. Research has shown high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety among survivors and their descendants, which are compounded by substance abuse, interpersonal violence and other socio-economic problems.
To address these challenges, the Rwandan government and its partners integrated mental health services in the country’s healthcare system. However, a persistent gap remains because most available therapies and treatments do not take account of the unique cultural and community-based needs of Rwanda’s population. Resilience-oriented therapy (ROT) was developed to bridge this gap. ROT takes a holistic approach, aligns with Rwanda’s collectivistic values, and addresses trauma through scalable, community-based interventions that emphasise resilience and social cohesion.