The Tree of Life: a community approach to empowering and healing the survivors of torture in Zimbabwe.

The article explores the effectiveness of the use of an empowerment workshop, called the Tree of Life, in the treatment of torture survivors. The approach is based on a survivor-to-survivor model of assistance. Research into the effectiveness of the method is carried out using a pre- and post measures using a psychiatric screening instrument, measuring depression and anxiety. Participants were also asked for feedback in a structured self-report upon completion of the workshop. In addition, an exit interview was conducted after follow-up, three months after the first workshop session. A total of 73 persons attended the workshops, and detailed follow up data was only available for 33. 36% showed significant clinical improvement, and the sample as a whole showed significant changes in their psychological state. More complete information was available for a smaller sample [19], which showed 39% having significant improvement. On follow-up, 44% were still experiencing difficulties, with most (72%) experiencing economic difficulties. On the positive side, 56% reported coping better, only 9% reported health problems, and most were still connected to the group with which they participated in the process. All felt that that the process had helped them, had helped them new things, and had changed in the way that they felt about their torture. The Tree of Life appears to be a useful, cost-effective, non-professional method of assisting torture survivors.