Scaling-Up Problem Management Plus for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Switzerland

Author(s) : Julia Carolina Spaaij

Source : https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/256403/

Abstract:

The number of individuals who are forced to flee their homes due to war and persecution is as
high as ever. Because of their experiences prior to leaving their homes and in transit, but also
due to ongoing post-migration stressors in the host countries, refugees and asylum seekers are
at a significant risk to develop with symptoms of mental health disorders. Even though in
Switzerland, mental health care is in principle available to refugees and asylum seekers, they
encounter a range of structural and socio-cultural barriers to accessing mental health
treatments. Therefore, to strengthen mental health care in Switzerland and ensure adequate
mental healthcare for everyone, innovative treatment approaches that complement existing
healthcare services are urgently needed. One solution might be the peer-delivered,
transdiagnostic psychological intervention Problem Management Plus (PM+). The
overarching aim of the dissertation was to explore challenges and opportunities associated
with scaling-up PM+ for refugees and asylum seekers in Switzerland by exploring the
feasibility and acceptability of the intervention, as well as its effect on post-migration
stressors and finally, by investigating factors influencing the large-scale implementation of
PM+.