Refugee children struggling with mental health issues can benefit from telephone-based therapy, a new study by the University of Surrey has revealed, reports BBC.
The research, led by Professor Michael Pluess, found that phone therapy led to a "strong and consistent" reduction in mental health symptoms among participants. The study also showed that phone therapy had a much higher completion rate compared to in-person alternatives.
According to BBC report, the study involved 20 Syrian refugee children, aged 8 to 17, living in Lebanon's Beqa'a Valley. The children received therapy in Arabic, delivered by trained local professionals using the Common Elements Treatment Approach (CETA), a method similar to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
"The number of forcibly displaced persons due to conflict and emergencies is growing, and refugee children often suffer from severe trauma," said Professor Pluess. "We need innovative solutions to provide vital mental health support in humanitarian settings."
Professor Pluess highlighted that mobile phones are commonly owned by refugee populations, even in places where access to formal mental health care is limited. This makes phone therapy an especially viable option for reaching vulnerable children.
Lebanon, which hosts the largest number of refugees per capita in the world, is home to an estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees, according to the UNHCR.
The study also noted that stigma surrounding mental health services and a lack of awareness about what therapy entails meant that fewer refugees than expected participated in the study.
In addition to the University of Surrey, the research involved collaboration with Johns Hopkins University in the U.S., the American University of Beirut in Lebanon, and Queen Mary University of London.
Source: BBC
Bd-Pratidin English/ Jisan
