None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The primary objective of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of the "Tell Your Story" (TYS) intervention for male and female Arabic-speaking refugees by conducting a randomized controlled trial (RCT). It is hypothesized that participants in the TYS condition will show reduced self-stigma and increased help-seeking relative to a waitlist control group. The secondary aim of this project is to investigate the psychological mechanisms underpinning changes in self-stigma and help-seeking. It is hypothesized that TYS increases help-seeking by decreasing negative stigma related beliefs about help-seeking and by reducing self-stigma via psychological mechanisms (future self-efficacy, self-esteem and help-seeking beliefs).
Interventions
The Tell Your Story (TYS) is an online intervention specifically designed to reduce mental health stigma and increase help-seeking in refugees. The TYS intervention was developed by the Refugee Trauma and Recovery Program (RTRP) in collaboration with cultural advisors to optimize cultural sensitivity and relevance. The intervention includes evidence-based, stigma reduction strategies: social contact, psychoeducation and cognitive re-appraisal of PTSD symptoms and help-seeking concerns. This is
The Tell Your Story (TYS) is an online intervention specifically designed to reduce mental health stigma and increase help-seeking in refugees. The TYS intervention was developed by the Refugee Trauma and Recovery Program (RTRP) in collaboration with cultural advisors to optimize cultural sensitivity and relevance. The intervention includes evidence-based, stigma reduction strategies: social contact, psychoeducation and cognitive re-appraisal of PTSD symptoms and help-seeking concerns. This is achieved via short videos, information and interactive activities organized into 12 short modules. Each module has a topic targeting either self-stigma or help-seeking and each take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. Participants will not be required to complete homework activities outside of the 12 short modules. Tell Your Story was originally created specifically for refugee men. This trial aims to extend the intervention to refugee women. To this end, men and women will complete a gender specific version of Tell Your Story given that stigma presents differently across genders. To account for this, modules are consistent across genders, however some aspects differ. For example, the short videos will feature either refugee men or women depending on the TYS version. The female adaptation was conducted following a literature search, consultation with cultural advisors and clinicians experienced in working with refugees experiencing mental health difficulties. Additionally, modules 11 and 12 are personalized for each participant based on their responses in earlier activities. For example, participants complete a help-seeking plan which includes the specific help-seeking benefits they endorsed in module 8. Participants will have access to the intervention for four weeks which they progress through at their own pace. The intervention will be delivered online and in language for the participant group (Arabic-speaking). Intervention adherence will be assessed by number of modules completed.
Sponsors
Professor Angela Nickerson
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Educational / counselling / training
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1.Refugee or asylum seeker background 2.Ability to read in Arabic 3. At least 18 years old 4. Internet access 5. At least sub-threshold levels of PTSD (defined as meeting criteria for cluster B intrusive symptoms and at least one other symptom cluster on the PC-PTSD measure) 6. The presence of self-stigma relating to mental health or help-seeking (defined as endorsing a response greater than or equal to 3 on at least one of the items taken from the ISMI or SSOSH)
Exclusion criteria
1) Currently seeing a mental health professional regularly (defined as once a month) 2) Actively suicidal (significant suicidal intent or a plan for suicide)
Outcome results
None listed