Transparent Communication to Improve Mental Wellbeing and Attitude Towards Reintegration

Reintegrating those once affiliated with proscribed terrorist groups constitutes significant global challenges due to public stigma, poor awareness of reintegration programmes and resentment towards incentives provided to rehabilitated former members of such groups. Of central concern is the anxiety, trauma and depression suffered alongside distrust for reintegration programmes, including the genuine repentance of former members of the proscribed group. The implication is its risk in exacerbating reoffending. Yet, a gap exists to address this urgent problem. The proposed study seeks to test and pilot the feasibility and acceptability of a novel intervention called Prosociality, Empathy and Awareness Communication to aid rEintegration (PEACE) in improving mental well-being and public attitude towards reintegration. The intervention is a low-intensity intervention lasting approximately 3-5 minutes design to create awareness on the rationale behind reintegration programme, reduce anxiety, depression and foster positive attitude towards reintegration.