Psychological Services
Volume 11, Issue 3, 2014, Pages 347-356

Reducing mental health disparities through transformative learning: A social change model with refugees and students (Article)

Hess J.M. , Isakson B. , Githinji A. , Roche N. , Vadnais K. , Parker D.P. , Goodkind J.R.*
  • a Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, United States
  • b Department of Psychiatry, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, United States
  • c Department of Anthropology, University of Virginia, United States
  • d Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, United States
  • e Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, United States
  • f Department of Sociology, University of New Mexico, United States
  • g Department of Sociology, University of New Mexico, United States

Abstract

Distribution of power and resources greatly impacts the mental health of individuals and communities. Thus, to reduce mental health disparities, it is imperative to address these social determinants of mental health through social change. Engaging in social change efforts requires people to critically engage with present conditions on personal, local, national, and global levels and to develop knowledge, capacity, and experience with envisioning and creating more equitable conditions. This critical engagement can be fostered through a process of transformative learning. In this article, we examine the Refugee Well-being Project (RWP), a program that aims to improve the mental health of refugees in the United States. From 2007 to 2009, participants in the RWP in New Mexico were refugees from the Great Lakes region of Africa. The RWP paired undergraduate students with refugees to engage in mutual learning and advocacy. Data from in-depth qualitative interviews with 72 refugees and 53 undergraduate students suggest that participation in the RWP constituted a transformative learning experience through which refugees and students came to new understandings of the relationship between social inequities and well-being. For many, this provided an impetus to work toward change at multiple levels. © 2014 American Psychological Association.

Author Keywords

social determinants of health Social support qualitative interviews Transformative learning Refugees Qualitative analysis Intervention programs

Index Keywords

Models, Psychological psychological model refugee social change health disparity Health Status Disparities mental health human Refugees middle aged Aged United States Young Adult student Humans psychology Adolescent male female adult Students Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84905174443&doi=10.1037%2fa0035334&partnerID=40&md5=b1a131192e127f32676890c99cba1afd
DOI: 10.1037/a0035334
ISSN: 15411559
Cited by: 8
Original Language: English