Digital support will strengthen the mental health of people on the run
One of the major projects in Sweden to support people with refugee backgrounds living with trauma-related mental illness is taking shape.
New digital tools will provide individuals with better support, and at the same time, researchers are monitoring how the interventions affect the well-being of this group.
"Mental illness can have a major impact on the possibility of creating a new life in Sweden, but the connections are still poorly mapped. Therefore, for three years, we will follow the participants' mental well-being linked to various integration factors, such as participation, security and establishment in society," says Anna Bjärtå, associate professor of psychology at Mid Sweden University and leader of the AMIR research group.
Individuals with a refugee background are a group with a high prevalence of trauma-related symptoms due to the fact that many have experienced several difficult events from the time before, during and after the flight. Studies show that asylum seekers who are waiting for a decision often feel the worst, where the uncertainty of their life situation can reinforce already difficult experiences.
Mental illness and integration – knowledge gaps must be closed
With funding from the EU's Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and the Swedish Research Council, a comprehensive digital structure is now being built for both support and research. Mid Sweden University is also contributing its own funds to enable a multi-year research track that will follow how mental health and the integration process are connected.
"Reaching out with knowledge is a crucial first step. Many do not know why they feel the way they do, or that there is help available. The hope is that our work will not only help individuals feel better here and now, but also provide long-term knowledge about how society can better support people on the run," says Anna Bjärtå.
Digital platform provides support in multiple languages
At the center is the AMIR project, which is aimed directly at people who have fled war, persecution or other difficult events. Through close collaboration with Linköping University, the researchers have developed extensive online-based support on the Iterapi platform. On the project's website, amirprojektet.se, users can access easily accessible information about trauma-related disorders in several languages.
"Via the website, participants can easily register and undergo an initial assessment of their need for support. After that, participants can be offered to take part in a group intervention, an individual intervention, or get help finding the right type of support if they have other support needs," says Anna.
Research that follows the participants' well-being over time
The individual intervention is particularly aimed at symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and focuses on dealing with difficult memories. To lower the thresholds, support is introduced by psychologists who speak Arabic, Dari, Farsi, English, or Swedish. Many participants will thus be able to receive support in their mother tongue. In parallel with offering the digital support, an extensive research part is also being carried out.
"The goal is to see if digital, culturally adapted support can reduce symptoms and at the same time strengthen people's opportunities to seek help and move forward in their establishment," she says.
Contact person:
Anna Bjärtå, Associate Professor of Psychology at Mid Sweden University and leader of the AMIR research group, 010-142 81 63, anna.bjarta@miun.se
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