Transcultural Psychiatry
Volume 45, Issue 1, 2008, Pages 105-120

Paraprofessional Counselling within Asylum Seekers' Groups in the Netherlands: TransferrinG an Approach for a Non-western Context to a European Setting (Article)

Kieft B.* , Jordans M.J.D. , de Jong J.T.V.M. , Kamperman A.M.
  • a GGZ Dijk en Duin, Department of Prevention, Westzijde 120, 1506 EJ Zaandam, Netherlands
  • b TPO, Tolstraat 127, 1074 VJ Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • c VU University, GGD Amsterdam, PO Box 2200, 1000 CE Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • d Academic Medical Centre, Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 5, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

This article presents the application of a psychosocial care approach, which has been developed for and in a non-western context, within an asylum seekers' setting in the Netherlands. The project aimed to increase access to basic psychosocial care to a target population that experiences difficulties in entering mental healthcare services, by a group of trained peer asylum seekers and refugees. The development of an informal paraprofessional support system makes better use of existing resources, provides secondary benefits for the participants and helps to overcome the treatment gap between perceived needs and the formal mental healthcare system. The article describes the key components of such an approach, the Dutch context, the project implementation and finishes with a discussion on outcomes, strengths and weaknesses, risks and recommendations. In summary, we found this community approach to be applicable and relevant within an asylum seekers' centre, as it incorporates an additional easy-access level of psychosocial care and social agency, which seemed to empower participants and help prevent psychosocial problems from becoming more severe. © 2008, Sage Publications. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

Counselling Psychosocial Asylum seekers Mental health Refugees

Index Keywords

Netherlands refugee mental health service public health service Europe human social support psychosocial care resource management mental health care cultural sensitivity patient counseling Humans treatment indication counseling Emigrants and Immigrants outcomes research risk benefit analysis medical education peer group Article Social Environment health care access politics disease severity Patient Acceptance of Health Care transcultural care health care system empowerment attitude to health health care need
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-40749094887&doi=10.1177%2f1363461507088000&partnerID=40&md5=85b494acb464c8a7d32707c172485512
DOI: 10.1177/1363461507088000
ISSN: 13634615
Cited by: 3
Original Language: English