Evaluating a “healthy minds” course for asylum seekers

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the addition of a “resilience-focused” Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)-based psycho-educational course for asylum seekers within a primary care Increasing Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) service. Design/methodology/approach – Eight asylum seekers who attended the “Healthy Minds” psycho-educational course took part in semi-structured interviews. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis to gain insight into participants’ experiences of attending the course. Findings – Five main themes emerged: factors promoting engagement; acquiring coping skills; connecting with personal strengths; connecting with others; and future support. Overall, positive feedback from the course participants suggests that the intervention was effective and well received. Research limitations/implications – The sample’s heterogeneity and size, as well as potential biases, limit the generalisability of the findings. Future research is therefore needed to confirm these findings and additional areas for further enquiry are considered. Practical implications – The group-based intervention provided a cost-effective and culturally relevant means of promoting social inclusion, whilst disseminating psycho-educational material. Social implications – Good practice in this area is important and timely. The success of this intervention indicates that future collaborations between IAPT services and community organisations which support people seeking asylum, should be explored. Originality/value – This study is valuable as it demonstrates that a non-specialist IAPT service has the ability to provide an effective low intensity psycho-educational intervention for people seeking asylum.