Young adults as community mental health workers in humanitarian settings

Conditions

Managing stress and improving mental health in vulnerable communities through problem management interventions.

Lilian Ghandour, G. E. Brown, Malak Tleis, Marwa Fares, Hanan Al Masri et al. (10 authors)

Conflict and Health2026-03-16

Structural and political determinants of health among Syrian refugee young adults in the Bekaa, Lebanon: a prospective cohort study of the impact of security raids on perceived discrimination and well-being

Lilian Ghandour, Grant Brown, Malak Tleis, Hanan Al Masri, Marwa Fares et al. (10 authors)

BMJ Open2024-12-01

10.1136/bmjopen-2024-087777

Syrian refugee young adults as community mental health workers implementing problem management plus: Protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial to measure the mechanisms of effect on their own wellbeing, stress and coping.

Nakkash R, Ghandour L, Brown G, Panter-Brick C, Bomar H, Tleis M, Al Masri H, Fares M, Al Halabi F, Najjar Y, Louis B, Hodroj M, Chamoun Y, Zarzour M, Afifi RA.

2024-06-281 citations

10.1016/j.conctc.2024.101325

Interventions

In this pilot study, we aim to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and fidelity of Syrian refugee young adults as community mental health workers (YA-CMHW), and the impact of this work on outcomes

Effect of delivering PM+ on the mental health and wellbeing of young adults delivering it to members of their community

effect of doing a task (tutoring school kids) on the mental health and wellbeing of young adults delivering it

social intervention

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to 24 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: Inclusion Criteria: a) being Syrian refugee, (b) being18-24 years; (c) having completed high school (44); (d) living in one of catchment areas (ITS) in the Bekaa at the time of screening; (e) having been involved in NGOs or service to their community; (f) expressed motivation to serve their community.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: Exclusion criteria: acute mental distress assessed through clinical interview and scales (PHQ9 and PSYCHLOPS) administered by psychiatrist.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Name: wellbeing ;Timepoints: 4 and 6 ;Measure: survey and hair samples;Name: stress;Timepoints: 4 and 6 ;Measure: survey and hair samples;Name: resilience ;Timepoints: 4 and 6 ;Measure: survey and hair samples	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Name: autonomy;Timepoints: 4;Measure: survey;Name: Engagement ;Timepoints: 4;Measure: survey;Name: Hope ;Timepoints: 4;Measure: survey;Name: meaning;Timepoints: 4;Measure: survey;Name: accomplishment;Timepoints: 4;Measure: survey;Name: positive emotions;Timepoints: 4;Measure: survey;Name: relationships;Timepoints: 4;Measure: survey	—

Countries

Lebanon

Contacts

Public ContactLilian Ghandour

AUB

lg01@aub.edu.lb+961 3 644 544

Outcome results

None listed