Mental health is an integral part of an induvial well-being and to address these wide range of long-term and short-term effects of childhood sexual abuse, the Mental health programmes conducted at Emerge focuses on providing trauma-focused individualized therapeutic/counselling plans, group therapy and workshops. The main aim for the Mental Health program is to explore the impact of trauma/ emotional distress and understanding paths for recovery, improvement and healing via therapeutic interventions and support. During the year 2020-2021, Emerge extended its arms to support emerge alumni, who were facing difficulties due to the pandemic. In 2020, mental health support was given to alumni on 24 occasions, these included 84 calls to ascertain well-being and provide support required. When the need arises, Emerge also visits alumni, and in the last year, 2 alumnae at Kurunegala were visited to support employment and accommodation issues. Group therapy / workshops is also a part of the program Emerge offers, which focuses on Group Emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness and mindfulness skills.
As Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) is an ongoing issue, Emerge continues to share Mental Health support and create awareness to the public as well. During September 2021, Emerge launched our very first online campaign; #ProtectEveryChild to create awareness on CSA, with the aim of promoting informed, sensitized communities with zero tolerance to CSA, Emerge reached out to over 300,000 individuals through trilingual content to create the much needed awareness on CSA. Emerge spread awareness via social media platforms, urging the communities to take pledges to protect every child. During this campaign emerge also connected via information sharing sessions on CSA and creating resources for the public on CSA. Via this campaign Emerge also extended Mental Health support to anyone who reached out for support. Emerge also continues to conduct knowledge sharing and training programs for the Emerge team to further develop and understand CSA and its impact.