Abstract
BackgroundThis study evaluated the feasibility of a short-term, multimodal trauma-focused treatment approach adapted specifically for unaccompanied refugee minors (URMs) in the Netherlands. This approach aims to overcome barriers to mental health care and to reduce symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.MethodsAn uncontrolled study was conducted, evaluating the main request for help, treatment integrity and feasibility, and the course of symptoms of PTSD (Children's Revised Impact of Event Scale-13) and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire modified for Adolescents).ResultsIn total, 41 minors were included in the study. Most participants were male (n = 27), predominately from Eritrea (75.6%) with a mean age of 16.5 (SD = 1.5). Minors mostly reported psychological problems, such as problems sleeping, and psychosocial problems, including worries about family reunification. Deviations from the approach were made to meet the current needs of the minors. Factors limiting the feasibility of the approach were often related to continuous stressors, such as news concerning asylum status.ConclusionsThe results provide a first indication that this approach partly overcomes barriers to mental health care and emphasize the added value of collaborating with intercultural mediators and offering outreach care.Trial registration: The study was registered in the Netherlands Trial Register (NL8585), 10 April 2020, Retrospectively registered, https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/8585.
Highlights
This study evaluated the feasibility of a short-term, multimodal trauma-focused treatment approach adapted for unaccompanied refugee minors (URMs) in the Netherlands
To overcome barriers to mental health care, we developed a short-term multimodal trauma-focused treatment approach, adapted for URMs
It was chosen to offer the treatment to minors from Eritrea, Syria or Afghanistan because the majority of URMs in the Netherlands came from these countries [20] and professionals working at Nidos perceived that minors from these countries experienced barriers to accessing regular mental health care
Summary
This study evaluated the feasibility of a short-term, multimodal trauma-focused treatment approach adapted for unaccompanied refugee minors (URMs) in the Netherlands. This approach aims to overcome barriers to mental health care and to reduce symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Refugee minors are exposed to a variety of stressors before and during their flight, such as forced migration and other dangerous circumstances. After migration, these minors often continue to experience hardships, such as resettlement in a new and strange environment, racial discrimination, isolation, and insecurities concerning family reunification and their refugee status. The vulnerability of URMs might be further enhanced by the separation from their caregivers and the lack of support that parental and family care can offer [7]
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