Zeitschrift fur Psychiatrie, Psychologie und Psychotherapie
Volume 65, Issue 3, 2017, Pages 167-174

Development and evaluation of an information event targeted at individuals working in refugee help [Entwicklung und Evaluation einer Informationsveranstaltung für in der Flüchtlingshilfe tätige Personen] (Article)

Mewes R. , Breidenstein A. , Strelow A.E. , Reinacher H. , Kowarsch L. , Nater U.M.
  • a Abteilung für Klinische Biopsychologie, Fachbereich Psychologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Gutenbergstr. 18, Marburg, 35032, Germany
  • b Abteilung für Klinische Biopsychologie, Fachbereich Psychologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Gutenbergstr. 18, Marburg, 35032, Germany
  • c Abteilung für Klinische Biopsychologie, Fachbereich Psychologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Gutenbergstr. 18, Marburg, 35032, Germany
  • d Abteilung für Klinische Biopsychologie, Fachbereich Psychologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Gutenbergstr. 18, Marburg, 35032, Germany
  • e Abteilung für Klinische Biopsychologie, Fachbereich Psychologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Gutenbergstr. 18, Marburg, 35032, Germany
  • f Abteilung für Klinische Biopsychologie, Fachbereich Psychologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Gutenbergstr. 18, Marburg, 35032, Germany

Abstract

The high number of formal and voluntary caregivers working with asylum seekers is a testimony to the wide-spread engagement and interest in helping refugees in Germany. Asylum seekers show a high prevalence of mental disorders. Therefore, formal and voluntary caregivers working with asylum seekers are in need of information on how to interact with mentally ill refugees and how to support them in getting adequate care. The authors developed a brief psychoeducational presentation for formal and voluntary caregivers working with asylum seeker. During the presentation information about frequent mental disorders, cultural specifics in subjective illness concepts of refugees, and the process of referring asylum seekers to mental health care is provided. In addition, the participants were informed on how to adequately interact with mentally ill refugees. The psychoeducational presentation was evaluated pre and post presentation as well as 6 months later. A total of 104 participants attended the presentation and completed evaluation pre and post. Results indicated a significant increase in knowledge in all presented topics. In general, the presentation was positively evaluated. The follow-up assessment with 20 participants indicated that their knowledge gain was still higher than prior to the presentation. This is the first evaluation of a manualized psychoeducational presentation for formal and voluntary caregivers working with asylum seekers. The presentation has now been revised based on feedback by the participants and it is available online. Moreover, it can be easily adapted to local characteristics. © 2017 Hogrefe.

Author Keywords

Mental disorders psychoeducation Refugees Voluntary caregivers Cultural specifics of illness concepts

Index Keywords

information processing Germany refugee psychoeducation Article mental disease follow up caregiver human
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85021341396&doi=10.1024%2f1661-4747%2fa000317&partnerID=40&md5=8e069c79d396ea9e73bbb6d2d56d3566
DOI: 10.1024/1661-4747/a000317
ISSN: 16614747
Cited by: 1
Original Language: German