3 - (SYM 32) Lay Trainers' Perspectives on Delivering Islamic Trauma Healing

In Somaliland, a self-declared independent region with a history of conflict, Somalis experience high rates of trauma exposure with about 30% meeting DSM-5 criteria for PTSD (Salad et al., 2023; Ali et al., 2023). Islamic Trauma Healing (ITH), a lay-led intervention integrating Islamic and evidence-based principles, has strong effects in reducing PTSD and depression symptoms among Somali refugees (Salad et al., 2023; Ali et al., 2023). ITH uses a train-the-trainer (TTT) model, where lay leaders ran ITH groups, trained new lay leaders using a two-session, four-hour training model, and then provided weekly supervision for new lay leaders running ITH groups. As part of a randomized controlled trial in Somaliland, this study qualitatively explored ITH trainers’ experiences to understand the challenges and benefits of shifting to lay-led training and supervision, informing ways to better support trainers in delivering ITH. Two gender-separated focus groups of trainers (N = 6 men, N = 6 women) who were currently supervising 24 lay leaders providing ITH across six mosques in Somaliland were conducted. Semi-structured interviews, led by gender-matched interviewers with live translation, were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using an inductive phenomenological approach and thematic content analysis in NVivo. Four key themes emerged: 1) personal and professional growth as trainers/supervisors – “I really liked learning about how to deal with these people [with] trauma” (40.7%); 2) importance of cultural and religious trauma healing – “the man realized the benefit that forgiveness had, to become patient with others” (27.0%); 3) need for future trainings to expand the program – “We can improve it by increasing supervision and trainings” (22.0%); and 4) barriers to ITH, like language and monetary barriers – “We used to ask [the trainers] why they didn’t come… [they] would say they didn’t have a budget” (10.3%). Within these themes, 15 codes were identified, such as community involvement, fulfillment in healing trauma, and the need for further mental health training. Trainers found meaning in healing their community and emphasized the need for more mental health training to expand the program further. Across trainers, the benefits of a TTT model emerged, showing that the supervisory role enhanced fulfillment, community involvement, and sustainability. Scaling interventions through trainer-peer relationships, cultural familiarity, and professional guidance could strengthen lay-led interventions and improve trauma care in Somali communities.