Prevention of trauma-related mental health problems among refugees: A mixed-methods evaluation of the MindSpring group programme in Denmark.

ABSTRACT

MindSpring (MS) is a community group intervention for refugees with the purpose of strengthening the participants' ability to cope with psychosocial problems, thereby preventing that premigration trauma and postmigratory stressors evolve into psychiatric disorders. The aim of the present project was to study the acceptability and impacts of MS. The study was a mixed-methods observational study including 92 Arabic speaking refugees. Participants completed a baseline demographic questionnaire, an outcome questionnaire and the World Health Organization (WHO)-5 well-being questionnaire (which is also validated as a depression screening tool) before and after the intervention. The paired t test showed a highly significant prepost difference on 12.84 points on the WHO-5. Participants' satisfaction was very high with a 98% overall satisfaction rate. The focus groups results supported these findings. The MS programme is an acceptable intervention for refugees. The significant improvement on WHO-5 suggests a positive impact on depressive symptoms and well-being.