Project title Impact of a community based RCT to improve mental health of Palestinian refugee youth
Research team Principal Investigator: Rima Afifi
Co-Principal Investigators: Sawsan Abdulrahim, Trudy Harpham, Mayada Kanj, Ziyad Mahfoud, Judy Makhoul
Collaborators: Rima Nakkash
Research Assistant: Taghreed El Hajj
Research question What is the impact of a year-long social skills intervention for youth, parents, and teachers on mental health of refugee youth?
Research Timeline 2006-10
Summary This project focuses on a priority health problem (mental health) in a group of low income urban youth refugees and uses an innovative conceptual framework (positive youth development) with evidence of effectiveness to guide the intervention design. More specifically, it assesses the impact of a social skills and social support intervention on the mental health of Palestinian refugee children aged 11 to 13 years living in Beirut using a randomized controlled trial design. The intervention to be evaluated is informed by evidence-based literature on mental health interventions for youth. The intervention is also ecologic as it includes activities tailored to youth, their parents, and their teachers. The outcome will be measured using the CES-D and Strengths and Difficulties questionnaire. Intervention design, implementation, and evaluation are guided and approved by a community based youth committee, thus enhancing relevance, feasibility, and ultimately sustainability if results prove positive. The results of the evaluation will extend the evidence base of mental health promotion interventions to a developing world context, to a refugee setting, and from the school into the community as a setting.
Project Summary Funding source Wellcome Trust
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