METRA resources
Memory Training for Recovery–Adolescent (METRA) is an innovative, evidence-based intervention designed to reduce psychological distress among adolescents affected by armed conflict and other traumatic events in humanitarian contexts. Developed for use in low- and middle-income countries, METRA is a low-cost, low-intensity, group-based program that can be readily delivered by community health providers.
The intervention targets two key cognitive features linked to posttrauma mental health difficulties: overgeneral memory (OGM) and distressing trauma memories. METRA is a manualised, transdiagnostic training package, delivered in ten 1-hour group sessions over approximately two weeks, requiring only 4-8 hours of facilitator training.
Read the full METRA Report:
Watch the METRA presentation from the 2025 Humanitarian Leadership Conference:
The METRA Intervention Manual provides guidance on program delivery for facilitators. It is available for download in Arabic, English, French, Kurdish, and Persian via the links below:
The Path of Hope graphic novel, inspired by the experiences and generous contributions of young people who participated in the program, introduces the METRA intervention. It is available for download in Arabic, English, and Kurdish via the links below:
A short animation introducing the METRA program can be viewed in Arabic, with subtitles available in English or Kurdish, via the links below:
METRA animation - Arabic (no subtitles)
METRA animation - English subtitles
METRA animation - Kurdish subtitles
The Path of Hope graphic novel and animation were developed by Paia Agency, whose creativity brought these works to life.
Explore publications from the METRA project:
Ahmadi, S. J., Jobson, L., Earnest, A., McAvoy, D., Musavi, Z., Samim, N., & Sarwary, S. A. A. (2022). Prevalence of poor mental health among adolescents in Kabul, Afghanistan, as of November 2021. JAMA Network Open, 5(6), e2218981. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.18981
Ahmadi, S. J., Musavi, Z., Samim, N., Sadeqi, M., & Jobson, L. (2022). Investigating the feasibility, acceptability and efficacy of using Modified-written exposure therapy in the aftermath of a terrorist attack on symptoms of Posttraumatic stress disorder among Afghan adolescent girls. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 826633. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.826633
Ahmadi, S. J., Jobson, L., Musavi, Z., Rezwani, S. R., Amini, F. A., Earnest, A., Samim, N., Sarwary, S. A. A., Sarwary, S. A., & McAvoy, D. (2023). Effect of the MEmory Training for Recovery-Adolescent intervention vs treatment as usual on psychiatric symptoms among adolescent girls in Afghanistan: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Network Open, 6(3), e236086. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.6086
Ahmadi, S. J., Musavi, Z., Ahmadi, S., Masha, S., Muradi, N., Samim, N. U., Sarwary, S. A., Sarwary, S. A. A., Shahinzada, S., McAvoy, D., Earnest, A., & Jobson, L. (2023). Examining MEmory Training for Recovery-Adolescent among Afghan adolescent boys: A pilot randomised controlled trial. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 14(2), 2251780. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2023.2251780
Jobson, L., Malallah, H., Ahmadi, S. J., McAvoy, D., Earnest, A., Vaughan, K., Berzenji, L. S., Mohammad, S., & Berzengi, A. (2025). Randomised clinical trial investigating MEmory Training for Recovery-Adolescents in addressing psychiatric concerns among adolescents in Iraq. Journal of Global Health, 15, 04111. https://doi.org/10.7189/jogh.15.04111
For any enquiries regarding METRA, please contact laura.jobson@monash.edu.