This study evaluated the impact of Katatagan, a culturally adapted,
group-based, and mindfulness-informed resilience intervention developed for disaster
survivors in the Philippines. The intervention aimed to teach six adaptive coping
skills: harnessing strengths, managing physical reactions, managing thoughts and
emotions, seeking solutions and support, identifying positive activities, and
planning for the future. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were conducted with
163 Typhoon Haiyan survivors. Six-month follow-up assessments were obtained for 37
participants. Pre- and post-results showed improvements in participants’
self-efficacy on all six coping skills. The 6-month follow-up revealed significant
improvements in four of the six coping skills. Focus group discussions conducted at
follow-up revealed that mindfulness, self-care, strengths, and reframing were some of
the topics that were most memorable to participants. Among these, participants
identified mindfulness as a skill that they continued to use. Participants also
shared that they felt stronger because of the intervention and have shared what they
learned with others in their communities.