Shameran Slewa?Younan|Molly McKenzie|Russell Thomson|Mitchell Smith|Yaser Mohammad|Jonathan Mond
Improving the mental wellbeing of Arabic speaking refugees: an evaluation of a mental health promotion program
Translational Research Institute|Western Sydney University|Camden and Campbelltown Hospitals|Western Sydney University|Western Sydney University|South Western Sydney Local Health District|Camden and Campbelltown Hospitals|Western Sydney University|Western Sydney University|Camden and Campbelltown Hospitals
refugee populations particularly high rates mental health problems including posttraumatic stress disorder ptsd depression however uptake mental health care may low even severe depression ptsd symptoms present individuals following resettlement likely due least part cultural influences refugees knowledge beliefs mental health problems treatment sought provide preliminary evidence effectiveness culturally tailored mental health promotion program arabicspeaking refugeesa total 33 arabicspeaking refugees resettled south western sydney recruited completed intervention consisted weekly threehour sessions 4 weeks delivered arabic key aspects mental health literacy helpseeking intentions levels general psychological distress assessed means selfreport survey preintervention immediately postintervention 3 months following interventionof 33 participants completed intervention 31 completed immediate postintervention survey 29 completed 3 months followup survey improvements aspects mental health literacy assessed found immediately postintervention followup although changes relating stigmatising attitudes statistically significant additionally statistically significant decrease participants levels general psychological distress observed immediately following intervention decrease sustained followupwhile research employing rigorous study design larger sample size needed results initial trial suggest culturally tailored mental health promotion program targeting key aspects mental health literacy improve mental health arabicspeaking refugees resettled western nation