What is it about?
This research explores how trained refugees can support fellow refugees facing mental health challenges. It evaluates a community-based program using Problem Management Plus (PM+) and case management in Greece. The study found that peer support was both effective and acceptable, helping participants feel less distressed and more supported.
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Why is it important?
This research is important because it shows that refugees themselves can play a key role in supporting the mental health of their peers, using low-intensity, scalable methods like WHO’s PM+ and case management. It is unique because it is one of the first studies in Europe to train and supervise refugees to deliver such psychological support at scale within formal services. Unlike traditional models that rely solely on professionals, this approach empowers communities, builds trust, and addresses the shortage of mental health providers for displaced populations. It offers a sustainable and culturally responsive model that can be adapted globally.
Perspectives
Writing this article was a meaningful and humbling experience. It reflects years of work alongside refugee communities in Greece, not simply studying them, but co-creating solutions with them. What makes this work special to me is that it challenges conventional hierarchies in mental health care by recognizing the capabilities and resilience of refugees as peer supporters. I believe this model not only fills service gaps but also restores dignity and agency to those often excluded from formal systems. My hope is that this article contributes to a broader shift in how we think about mental health support—less top-down, more community-rooted, and ultimately more human.
Dr Chrysovalantis Papathanasiou
Panteion Panepistemio Koinonikon kai Politikon Epistemon
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Peer‐provided problem management plus (PM+) and case management for Arabic‐speaking and Farsi‐speaking refugees and asylum seekers in Greece, Mental Health Science, September 2024, Wiley,
DOI: 10.1002/mhs2.86.
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