”Putting words to their feelings”– civic communicators’ perceptions and experiences of an in-depth course on mental health for newly settled refugee migrants in Sweden
Abstract Background Newly settled refugee migrants face psychological stressors stemming from pre-, during- and post-migration experiences. In Sweden, mental health promotion is part of the health module in the civic orientation classes for newly settled refugee migrants. Training courses are offere...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09524-2 |
| _version_ | 1827943540094664704 |
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| author | Maissa Al-Adhami Josefin Wångdahl Raziye Salari Eva Åkerman |
| author_facet | Maissa Al-Adhami Josefin Wångdahl Raziye Salari Eva Åkerman |
| author_sort | Maissa Al-Adhami |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Newly settled refugee migrants face psychological stressors stemming from pre-, during- and post-migration experiences. In Sweden, mental health promotion is part of the health module in the civic orientation classes for newly settled refugee migrants. Training courses are offered to civic communicators and workshop leaders to facilitate communication about mental health; however, the training is seldom evaluated. In the current study, we aim to explore civic communicators’ perceptions and experiences of an in-depth mental health training course in relation to observed needs among newly settled refugee migrants. Method We interviewed ten civic communicators that had partaken in the in-depth training course on mental health. All respondents had prior migratory experience and worked as civic communicators in their native languages. The interviews were semi-structured and data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Three themes were identified: (1) Intertwined mental health needs related to migration, (2) Multi-layered barriers to addressing mental health, and (3) Becoming aware of the mental health journey. One overarching theme was arrived at through synthesizing the three themes ‘Acquired new tools to lead reflective conversations about mental health and well-being’. Conclusion The in-depth mental health training course led to the attainment of new knowledge and new tools enabling civic communicators to lead reflective conversations about mental health and well-being with newly settled refugee migrants. Mental health needs were related to pre- and post-migration experiences. Barriers to talking about mental health included stigma and a lack of arenas to promote the mental health of refugee migrants. Increasing knowledge among civic communicators can facilitate the promotion of mental self-help capacity and resilience among newly settled refugee migrants. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:16:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a17c8796dc274bb98315004da9c41921 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:16:58Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-a17c8796dc274bb98315004da9c419212023-05-21T11:12:10ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632023-05-0123111510.1186/s12913-023-09524-2”Putting words to their feelings”– civic communicators’ perceptions and experiences of an in-depth course on mental health for newly settled refugee migrants in SwedenMaissa Al-Adhami0Josefin Wångdahl1Raziye Salari2Eva Åkerman3Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Research and Learning for Sustainable Development and Global Health (SWEDESD), Uppsala UniversityDepartment of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Uppsala UniversityDepartment of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Child Health and Parenting (CHAP), Uppsala UniversityDepartment of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska InstitutetAbstract Background Newly settled refugee migrants face psychological stressors stemming from pre-, during- and post-migration experiences. In Sweden, mental health promotion is part of the health module in the civic orientation classes for newly settled refugee migrants. Training courses are offered to civic communicators and workshop leaders to facilitate communication about mental health; however, the training is seldom evaluated. In the current study, we aim to explore civic communicators’ perceptions and experiences of an in-depth mental health training course in relation to observed needs among newly settled refugee migrants. Method We interviewed ten civic communicators that had partaken in the in-depth training course on mental health. All respondents had prior migratory experience and worked as civic communicators in their native languages. The interviews were semi-structured and data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Three themes were identified: (1) Intertwined mental health needs related to migration, (2) Multi-layered barriers to addressing mental health, and (3) Becoming aware of the mental health journey. One overarching theme was arrived at through synthesizing the three themes ‘Acquired new tools to lead reflective conversations about mental health and well-being’. Conclusion The in-depth mental health training course led to the attainment of new knowledge and new tools enabling civic communicators to lead reflective conversations about mental health and well-being with newly settled refugee migrants. Mental health needs were related to pre- and post-migration experiences. Barriers to talking about mental health included stigma and a lack of arenas to promote the mental health of refugee migrants. Increasing knowledge among civic communicators can facilitate the promotion of mental self-help capacity and resilience among newly settled refugee migrants.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09524-2Mental health trainingRefugee migrantsMental health literacyHealth promotionSweden |
| spellingShingle | Maissa Al-Adhami Josefin Wångdahl Raziye Salari Eva Åkerman ”Putting words to their feelings”– civic communicators’ perceptions and experiences of an in-depth course on mental health for newly settled refugee migrants in Sweden BMC Health Services Research Mental health training Refugee migrants Mental health literacy Health promotion Sweden |
| title | ”Putting words to their feelings”– civic communicators’ perceptions and experiences of an in-depth course on mental health for newly settled refugee migrants in Sweden |
| title_full | ”Putting words to their feelings”– civic communicators’ perceptions and experiences of an in-depth course on mental health for newly settled refugee migrants in Sweden |
| title_fullStr | ”Putting words to their feelings”– civic communicators’ perceptions and experiences of an in-depth course on mental health for newly settled refugee migrants in Sweden |
| title_full_unstemmed | ”Putting words to their feelings”– civic communicators’ perceptions and experiences of an in-depth course on mental health for newly settled refugee migrants in Sweden |
| title_short | ”Putting words to their feelings”– civic communicators’ perceptions and experiences of an in-depth course on mental health for newly settled refugee migrants in Sweden |
| title_sort | putting words to their feelings civic communicators perceptions and experiences of an in depth course on mental health for newly settled refugee migrants in sweden |
| topic | Mental health training Refugee migrants Mental health literacy Health promotion Sweden |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09524-2 |
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