Horgan, Jack (2024) Facilitators and barriers to service provision for adolescent refugees and the impact on mental health and well-being: A service provider perspective. Masters thesis, National University of Ireland Maynooth.

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Abstract

Background: Refugees may experience post-migration and acculturative stressors in their host country, including language and educational barriers and integration challenges, all of which may negatively affect their mental health. These may be particularly problematic for school-going refugees, and service providers (SPs) including school personnel play a critical role in supporting their mental health and well-being needs as well as their educational outcomes. Aims: The principal aims of this study, which was conducted as part of a larger project called ‘SALaM Ireland’, were to: (1) undertake a review of the literature to explore services and interventions aimed at supporting the mental health and well-being of young, mainly Arabic-speaking, refugees in school and community settings; and (2) to explore the perspectives of stakeholders involved in supporting this population in Ireland, to better understand their psychosocial and wellbeing needs. Method: A scoping review of relevant literature was undertaken (Stage One) alongside and a series of one-to-one interviews and a small focus group discussion with a range of stakeholders (n=21) involved in providing support for this population in Ireland (Stage Two). Results: Several barriers to positive mental health and psychosocial well-being were identified from both the scoping review and the participant interviews, including stigma, cultural differences, poor or impoverished educational backgrounds and a lack of funding/resources. Facilitative factors included trauma-informed approaches, appropriate psychological interventions/therapies, adequate language and educational supports and other integrative supports and services. Conclusion: This timely and topical research provides a valuable contribution to the international literature. The findings may also help to inform policy and practice both in Ireland and elsewhere, and especially in terms of identifying some potentially promising approaches which may be implemented (and evaluated) to help foster the successful integration and inclusion of young refugees in their host countries. Some directions for future research are also indicated.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Keywords:	Facilitators; barriers; service provision; adolescent refugees; impact; mental health and well-being; service provider perspective;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > Psychology
Item ID:	18881
Depositing User:	IR eTheses
Date Deposited:	13 Sep 2024 13:56
URI:
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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