Cognitive Processing Therapy for the Treatment of PTSD, Depression, Anxiety Symptoms and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation in Syrian Refugee Women Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence

Intimate partner violence (IPV) creates psychological anguish, and victims need support, including psychotherapy. To examine the efficacy of cognitive processing therapy (CPT) in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety and difficulties with emotion regulation in Syrian refugee women living in Egypt who have experienced IPV.

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Co-creation as a Methodology to Integrate Mental Health and Psychosocial Support and Peacebuilding

The integration of peacebuilding and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) is a new field that is receiving increased attention from policy makers, local and international civil society organisations and donors. The authors conducted pilot studies in four countries over a 4-year period using a co-creation process.

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Health trajectories of international humanitarian aid workers : growth mixture modelling findings from a prospective cohort study

Background
Most staff stay healthy during humanitarian work, although some worsen. Mean scores on health indicators may be masking individual participants struggling with health issues.

 

Aims

To investigate different field assignment-related health trajectories among international humanitarian aid workers (iHAWs) and explore the mechanisms used to stay healthy.

 

Method

Growth mixture modelling analyses for five health indicators using pre-/post-assignment and follow-up data.

 

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Workshops on Trauma and Loss, Coping and Resilience, to Support Afghani Refugee Women Living in Limbo in Greece

These joint reflections are from Jane, who designed and delivered the workshops for Afghani refugee women, and Khatera, one of the participants, who supported and helped with communication in advance and throughout. They describe the main elements of the workshops and their impact. The workshops acknowledged the enormous losses and traumas the women had experienced, but also looked at ways of keeping hope alive and the importance of recognising and building on the strengths and resilience the women already had. The workshops were organised by the International Bar Association, UK.

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Us and Us : Reflections of the Wellbeing of Church-based Volunteers Working with Refugees and Asylum-seekers, Edinburgh, Scotland

Over the past 5 years, Scotland has seen numbers of refugees and asylum-seekers increase significantly. Churches and other faith-based organisations have been key players in aiding with the reception and integration of these “New Scots”. Although many volunteers characterise their experiences as positive, there have also been unique challenges presented for their mental health and emotional wellbeing as they navigate complex relationships and stories of hardship.

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How Process Matters in Strengthening MHPSS : A Reflection

In developing the IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings, attention to social process was key for success. In retrospect, humility was crucial for reflecting on one’s own dogmas, opening up to different points of view and avoiding ideological fixity and unproductive debates. Inclusivity was the key for enabling learning from diverse perspectives and areas of expertise, drawing on understandings from different countries and developing richly contextual approaches.

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A Brief Reflection on Paper Titled “Mental Health Training of Primary Health Care Workers : Case Reports from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Jordan”

Reading the paper more than a decade after publishing it in the journal Intervention in 2011 brought back memories of the fieldwork done in Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Jordan. The objective of this paper was to share the lessons learnt about the integration of mental health into primary healthcare in three settings. I remember that already in 2011, I shared the paper with all the relevant stakeholders whom I mentioned in the acknowledgement section of the paper. The feedback from all of them who responded was generally positive.

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Competency Assessment of Non-Specialists Delivering a Psychological Intervention in Lebanon : A Process Evaluation

There is an increasing need to improve the competency and quality of non-specialists delivering psychological interventions. As part of the Ensuring Quality in Psychological Support (EQUIP) initiative, this study evaluates the process of roleplay-based competency assessments using three tools to assess the competencies of facilitators delivering a psychological intervention for children in Lebanon.

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Development and Psychometric Testing of the Student Learning in Emergencies Checklist (SLEC) : Measuring Promotors of Academic Functioning and Wellbeing in Palestinian Youth Affected by War and Conflict

Youth living with war and ongoing conflict are frequently exposed to potentially traumatic events and cumulative stress which can result in temporarily impaired academic functioning and reduced wellbeing in school. In Palestine, the Ministry of Education has included psychosocial support programmes in the schools for the purpose of reducing stress reactions and improving school functioning amongst students.

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Decolonising Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Interventions in the Humanitarian System

Mental health is an increasing concern around the world, but there is a substantial gap in terms of access to quality mental healthcare between Western and non-Western countries. To help close this gap and improve the delivery of mental health and psychosocial support services (MHPSS), the UN’s 2016 Grand Bargain declared a new approach of prioritising the localisation of these services. This paper examines the effects of the Grand Bargain on the localisation of mental health and psychosocial support services in non-Western countries, as a means to decolonise mental health.

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