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The “RISE: Resist, Intervene, Support, Empower” study, led by Dr. Monica Malta (IMHPR/CAMH), is sponsored by Grand Challenges Canada and was initially designed to connect LGBTQ2S persons from Brazil surviving violence with supportive services. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic domestic violence survivors were trapped with abusers, shelters were closed and most social/health services were unavailable in the country. The research team then partnered with the Brazilian Ministry of Health and several local NGOs to develop an app, ‘Rainbow Resistance. Until mid September it had over 12,000 downloads, allowing app users to report abuse, receive crisis support, and find services open near them. In close collaboration with researchers from Duke University and with a grant from NIMH/NIH, new features are being developed to provide mental health screening, counseling, crisis support and referral for those with higher scores for PTSD, suicidality, generalized anxiety and major depression.
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