Social ecological determinants of the mental distress among Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Turkey: A transnational perspective.

Objective: Refugees are frequently shown to have worse mental health outcomes than non-displaced populations. This fact is commonly attributed to traumatic pre-displacement experiences. While important, the focus on trauma risks overlooking the role socioeconomic living-conditions in different arrival and transit contexts can play in determining refugees' mental distress.

Challenges in substance use treatment as perceived by professionals and Arabic-speaking refugees in Germany.

Background: Substance use (SU) and substance use disorders (SUDs) have been recently documented among forcibly displaced populations as a coping mechanism to migration and postmigration stressors. Although the literature exploring substance use among refugees has grown recently, little is known about SU among Arabic-speaking refugees and, more specifically, on the challenges and experiences in regards to SU treatment. This study investigates this topic from the perspectives of Arabic-speaking refugees and professionals in Germany.

An ecosystemic view on refugee mental health care: on caring environments and their interaction.

Despite the burden of mental health problems among refugees, knowledge about mental health care for this group is limited. In this context, the comprehensive discussion is important because care is more than professional care, but takes place in everyday situations and between different groups of people. In this study, we look at expert views (based on profession and lived experience) on caring environments concerning refugees' mental health on different system levels.

Rethinking mental health care provided to migrants and refugees; a randomized controlled trial on the effectiveness of Value Based Counseling, a culturally sensitive, strength-based psychological intervention.

Background: Despite traumatic experiences and persistent psychosocial stressors, many refugees and migrants display resilience and strength in the midst and aftermath of hardships. 'Value Based Counseling' (VBC), a low-threshold, short-term and culturally sensitive psychological intervention avoids the stigmatization and pathologization of mental health problems, and, in line with latest research calling for a rethink of mental health care for migrants and refugees, focusses on the resilience and resources of clients.

Method: This pragmatic, assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial employed a pre-post control group design to assess the effectiveness of VBC in the development of psychological assets.

Germans' awareness of refugees' information barriers regarding health care access: a cross-sectional study.

Background: In light of their experiences on the refuge and upon their arrival in the receiving society, refugees may have differentiated needs regarding health care. However, negative attitudes of the members of the receiving society and a lack of information pose as barriers for refugees when trying to access health care services. In that sense, it is largely unknown, which antecedents positively affect Germans' perception of information barriers that refugees face.

Substance (mis)use among refugees as a matter of social ecology: insights into a multi-site rapid assessment in Germany.

Background: Previous research concluded that substance (mis)use is increasing among forcibly displaced populations. Nevertheless, little research has been conducted within a social ecological framework aimed at identifying and understanding the factors affecting substance (mis)use embedded in the post-migration context in high-income countries. The present study aims to develop an understanding of the links and underlying mechanisms between refugees' social ecological determinants and substance (mis)using behavior.

Environmental stress, minority status, and local poverty: risk factors for mental health in Berlin's inner city.

This study examines whether climate change-associated environmental stressors, including air and noise pollution, local heat levels, as well as a lack of surrounding greenspace, mediate the effects of local poverty on mental health, using the 28-item General Health Questionnaire. We recruited 478 adults who were representative of eleven of Berlin's inner-city neighborhoods. The relationship of individual-level variables, neighborhood-level sociodemographic and environmental data from the Berlin Senate (Department for Urban Development, Building and Housing) to mental health was assessed in a multilevel model using SPSS.

Racism and psychosis: an umbrella review and qualitative analysis of the mental health consequences of racism.

Black people and People of Color are disproportionately affected by racism and show increased rates of psychosis. To examine whether racialized migrant groups are particularly exposed to racism and therefore have higher risks for psychosis, this paper (1) systematically assesses rates of psychosis among racialized migrant groups concerning the country of origin, and (2) analyzes interviews regarding the association of racism experiences with psychosis-related symptoms in racialized Black people and People of Color populations in Germany. We present an umbrella review of meta-analyses that report the incidence of positive symptoms (e.

A systematic review of qualitative research on substance use among refugees.

Aims: To evaluate qualitative research on substance use and substance use disorders (SUDs) among refugees in terms of practitioners' and substance users' attitudes, beliefs and experiences.

Methods: Six medical, allied health and social sciences databases (EBSCO, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Scholar and the Cochrane Library) were systematically searched in a time frame between January and April 2021 to identify original peer-reviewed articles describing qualitative findings related to substance use among refugees (alcohol, illicit drugs, tobacco and prescription drugs). Study selection, critical appraisal and detailed extraction were performed via the Joanna Briggs Institute Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) (2018).

New directions in the mental health care of migrants, including refugees-A randomized controlled trial investigating the efficacy of value-based counselling.

Objective: Specialized literature has identified a need for evidence-based, low-threshold, short-term, and intracultural psychological interventions that can be made available to migrants, including refugees, who suffer from psychological symptoms in host countries. The objective of the present study is to measure the efficacy of value-based counselling (VBC) as such an intervention.

Method: We conducted a pragmatic, rater-blinded randomized controlled trial employing a pre-post control group design to assess the efficacy of VBC based on a study sample of 103 migrants, including refugees, who resided in Germany at the time.

Empathy and the ability to experience one's own emotions modify the expression of blatant and subtle prejudice among young male adults.

Prejudices can lead to discrimination, social exclusion, and violence particularly among young male adults. Previous findings suggest that the degree of holding prejudices is linked to low levels of empathy, while low levels of empathy have been associated with alexithymia, the inability to experience one's own feelings. We tested the hypothesis that the impact of a lack of empathy on reporting blatant and subtle prejudices is moderated by the inability to identify one's own feelings.

A Central Clearing Clinic to Provide Mental Health Services for Refugees in Germany.

To determine migration related distress pattern in refugees and feasibility of a established, central low-threshold outpatient clinic serving more than 80,000 newly arrived refugees in the metropole of Berlin. In an observational cohort study the relative prevalence of major psychiatric disorders by age, place of living within berlin, language and region of origin were assessed in a refugee cohort from 63 nationalities speaking 36 languages. Within 18 months, a total of 3,096 cases with a mean age of 29.

Tanzanian women´s knowledge about Cervical Cancer and HPV and their prevalence of positive VIA cervical screening results. Data from a Prevention and Awareness Campaign in Northern Tanzania, 2017 - 2019.

: 14.9 million women (≥15 years) in Tanzania are at risk of developing cervical cancer. Limited cancer care facilities, prevention programs and sparse knowledge among community members and healthcare workers contribute to late-stage presentation leading to a high mortality rate.

[Racism and mental health].

The article provides an overview of racism discourses in research and clinical practice in the health sector and discusses the individual and institutional effects of racism and discrimination on mental health. In addition, suggestions are provided as to which racism critical transformations in healthcare structures for mentally ill persons are necessary in order to enable equitable participation for people affected by discrimination and racism.

[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.

[Poverty, migration and mental health].

Poverty and social exclusion are closely related to an increased risk for the deterioration of mental health. In 2018 approximately 19% of the German population were threatened by poverty and the associated social ostracization. Migrant groups in particular often show an increased risk for poverty and are often exposed to multiple socioeconomic stress factors depending on the context of migration, pre-migration and post-migration social factors.

Acculturation and other risk factors of depressive disorders in individuals with Turkish migration backgrounds.

Background: Acculturation is a long-term, multi-dimensional process occurring when subjects of different cultures stay in continuous contact. Previous studies have suggested that elevated rates of depression among different migrant groups might be due to patterns of acculturation and migration related risk factors. This paper focused on prevalence rates of depressive disorders and related risk factors among individuals with Turkish migration backgrounds.

[The (Refugee) Crisis in the Psychotherapeutic Treatment Room].

Objective: Aim of the study was to examine how discourses of refugees in the media influence the perspective of independent psychotherapists working with refugees.

Methods: 20 problem-centered interviews were carried out across Germany with independent psychotherapists, and were analyzed using the principles of Grounded Theory.

Results: 4 portrayals of refugees were identified: 'The problematic Other' (1), 'No Other' (2), 'The advantageous Other' (3) and 'The excluded subject' (4).

[Healthcare models for traumatized refugees in Germany].

People with a migration background are a risk group for psychiatric disorders. Innovative, transnational and sustainable projects are necessary to ensure adequate care for refugees and asylum seekers. Selected projects of the University of Munich, the Charité Berlin and the University of Konstanz show promising approaches in addition to other initiatives.

Risk of psychosis in refugees: a literature review.

Conflicts and precarious living conditions resulted in the arrival of large numbers of refugees in Europe and especially in Germany. Evidence suggests that immigrant populations are at elevated risk of psychotic disorders. Considering the traumatic pre- and post-migratory adversities refugees may have encountered, people granted refugee status may even be more susceptible to psychosis than non-refugee migrants.