Exploring pandemic preparedness in higher education: lessons learnt from students' lived experiences during a critical time.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a marked impact on educational disruption and progression of students. Linked to this, studies have demonstrated increases in depression, anxiety, and stress, with long-term outcomes yet to be understood. Students in Higher Education (HE) were at particular risk due to circumstances such as financial stress from job loss, shifting to online learning and uncertainties about the future, with many international students isolated from social support networks.

Psychological distress and anxiety in Arab refugees and migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany.

The COVID-19 pandemic is associated with various psychological stressors due to health-related, social, economic, and individual consequences, especially for minority groups such as refugees and other migrants who live in unstable conditions and have lost their social support groups. The aim of this study was to explore the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on this specific population in Germany.This study used a mixed-method approach.

[Peer-to-Peer Self-help Interventions for Refugees: A Pilot Study].

The arrival of a large number of forcibly displaced people in Germany since 2015 has led to increased challenges in the mental health care system. To build up knowledge and raise awareness of refugees regarding mental health services and to provide practical support, a manual for peer-to-peer (P2P) counseling was developed at Charité-University Medical Center Berlin and refugees were trained as peer counsellors. In a pilot study, we qualitatively evaluated four P2P groups with Farsi / Dari or Arabic speaking male and female refugees.

[Exploring the relationship between refugee women and female volunteers].

The growing number of refugees arriving in Germany in 2015 increased the need for support and care in psychosocial matters, on the part of both, refugees and volunteers. The research project investigated the relationship between refugee women and female volunteers, who were not necessarily familiar with each other, through 32 guided interviews (16 with Arab & Farsi speaking women, 16 women with female volunteers). The results reveal a relevant uncertainty surrounding the definition of "volunteering" on both sides as well as misunderstandings and imbalances in their interaction.