Social Science - Sociology Assignment

Literature Review on Refugee Mental Health and Social Justice

SOCW-6301

Professor

4/4/2024

Literature Review on Refugee Mental Health and Social Justice

Traumatic events and cultural displacement cause mental health issues for refugees. These issues require social justice-based strategies that treat symptoms. Interventions can help refugee populations heal by addressing structural inequalities and systemic impediments that worsen mental health disparities. This literature review synthesizes peer-reviewed articles on refugee mental health and social justice. The review will examine survivor justice models, well-being and social justice, psychosocial environment, and mental health intervention issues in low- and middle-income countries.

Centering survivors' perspectives, experiences, and needs in survivor-focused justice models changes trauma, violence, and displacement response. Liebling et al. (2024) believe survivors should be empowered to seek justice and healing on their own terms. Their study among South Sudanese refugees in Northern Uganda presents "viable justice," which incorporates survivor-centered ideas into justice frameworks. Researchers claim this strategy blends traditional, transitional, and social justice. It supports survivor-led justice initiatives, deviating from standard methods. Viable justice uses survivor perspectives to fix gaps in existing systems, especially for refugees in situations where formal judicial procedures are weak. Through narrative interviews with refugee survivors and important informants, Liebling et al. highlight survivors' many obstacles, including instability, lack of confidence in transitional justice processes, and limited access to crucial resources. They promote gender-sensitive and culturally relevant justice initiatives that empower survivors to rehabilitate and thrive.

Refugee mental health discourse centers on well-being and social justice. Lai (2023) proposes redefining social justice and well-being in social work and policy. This reconceptualization requires addressing structural inequities and promoting human dignity, fairness, and self-esteem. Lai emphasizes the need to redistribute resources to reduce underprivileged people' mental health burdens. Interventions can improve refugee well-being and social cohesion by valuing individuals and their agency. Social justice as well-being is meeting fundamental necessities and creating a thriving environment. Lai (2023) defines well-being as the qualities necessary for a decent life and emphasizes the need to secure them for everyone to accomplish justice. This view corresponds with social welfare's goals of promoting well-being and reducing inequality. Thus, justice as well-being emphasizes the link between social fairness and a suitable environment for individuals to thrive.

Bragin (2020) defines contextualized psychosocial aid as mental health therapies that account for cultural and sociopolitical circumstances. Bragin stresses the potential of community-based psychological support programs, which empower disadvantaged populations through cultural values, traditions, and community leadership. These programs address interpersonal, systemic, and individual violence while building resilience and agency. societal workers, unlike other helping professions, must promote societal change, cohesion, and empowerment while they help people overcome many challenges. Bragin (2020) notes that social workers focus on communities, especially in the global south, where communal membership defines communities. Bio-psycho-social-spiritual interventions address community distress and require multi-level well-being methods. Contextualized social ecological psychological support programs boost resilience and well-being in communities. They work with spiritual and cultural healers to integrate care into society, economy, politics, and culture. These activities promote meaning-making in difficult times and address communal issues. Community-based approaches recognize the communal effects of structural, social, and interpersonal violence, emphasizing societal well-being. Integrating multiple disciplines within these programs boosts their efficacy and shows a collaborative approach to social issues.

In providing mental health services to refugees, LMICs have particular problems. Limited resources, political instability, and social marginalization hinder mental health treatment use. Jannesari et al. (2021) examine how setting affects asylum seeker and refugee mental health interventions in LMICs. Their qualitative systematic evaluation focuses on support during pressure and insecurity, cultural mental health ideas, and facilitator skills and relationships.

Revising the Research Question

After synthesizing refugee mental health and social justice literature, numerous major themes and gaps developed, suggesting a need to define and focus the study topic. First, survivor-focused justice models and refugee mental health therapies have shown the necessity of prioritizing survivors' perspectives and experiences. Thus, a modified research question will investigate how survivor-led initiatives improve refugee mental health therapies' efficacy and cultural sensitivity. Second, contextual factors influence refugee mental health interventions, especially in LMICs. Understanding how contextual issues like low resources, political instability, and social marginalization affect intervention delivery and effectiveness is crucial. Thus, a modified research question may examine how cultural, social, and political aspects affect refugee mental health treatment accessibility, acceptance, and sustainability in varied situations.

References

Bragin, M. Community Based Psychosocial Support-Lessons from the Global South. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Martha-Bragin/publication/369693324_Bragin_-Community_Based_Psychosocial_Support_Community_Based_Psychosocial_Support-Lessons_from_the_Global_South_Chapter_X/links/644c31984af788735245aa13/Bragin-Community-Based-Psychosocial-Support-Community-Based-Psychosocial-Support-Lessons-from-the-Global-South-Chapter-X.pdf

Jannesari, S., Lotito, C., Turrini, G., Oram, S., & Barbui, C. (2021). How does context influence the delivery of mental health interventions for asylum seekers and refugees in low-and middle-income countries? A qualitative systematic review.  International Journal of Mental Health Systems,  15, 1-20. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13033-021-00501-y

Lai, D. W. (2023). Social justice as well-being: a radical rethinking of social work and social policy.  China Journal of Social Work,  16(3), 273-289. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/17525098.2023.2285049

Liebling, H. J., Barrett, H. R., Artz, L., & Shahid, A. (2024). Viable justice: survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and/or torture amongst South Sudanese refugees living in settlements in Northern Uganda.  International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJMHSC-12-2022-0121/full/html

Even though social workers might think of a compelling research question and have a desire to conduct research, this does not mean that the research is automatically supported by stakeholders or funded by an organization. To gain such approval, they must submit a research proposal. Much like an outline of a paper or a blueprint of a building design, the research proposal contains the framework so that stakeholders can see the key elements and the vision for the study.

For this Assignment, you write the first part of your research proposal, including the introduction, problem statement, research question, literature review, and methodological approach.

TO PREPARE

· Review and gather content from previous Assignments and Discussions that includes elements of your research proposal. You should have significant material for your problem statement, research question, literature review, and methodological approach.

· Revise these previous course submissions based on any feedback you have received.

· Download the Research Proposal Template and review the guidance found within the document. Use this template for the Assignment.

· You may wish to consult the Writing Toolbox in the left navigation of your classroom for additional resources relevant to writing your research proposal.

· Write an introduction and refine and connect the various sections so that they work together as a cohesive research proposal.

Assignment

Compile and submit the first part of your research proposal including the following sections in 3 to 4 pages:

· Introduction (1 paragraph)

· Problem Statement (1 paragraph)

· Research Question (1 paragraph)

· Literature Review (revision of previously submitted; 2 pages)

· Methodological Approach (2–3 paragraphs)

Make sure to use the provided template and include appropriate APA citations and a reference list.

Choosing a Research Methodology for My Research Question

Student’s name

Institution affiliation

Course

Instructor’s name

Date

Choosing a Research Methodology for My Research Question

It is vital that I understand what differences qualitative and quantitative research methods have before conducting research. In this paper I will choose the best method for my proposed study on refugee and asylum seeker mental health interventions. These methods differ in many ways including their ways of collecting data, analyzing it and its nature. In qualitative research Ahmad et al. (2019) note that researchers use “interviews, focus groups, and observations” to explore participants' thoughts, feelings, and motivations. Quantitative research is based on statistics; it uses surveys and experiments to collect data for statistical analysis to quantify population correlations and patterns (Kandel, 2020).

Another difference is that qualitative research emphasizes participants' rich and deep experiences by evaluating textual or visual data using theme analysis, grounded theory, or other qualitative methodologies (Ahmad et al., 2019). Quantitative research one the other hand finds patterns, correlations and casual links through the use statistical analysis to generalize data about a population (Kandel, 2020). Additionally, the nature of data produced by these two methods is distinct. According to Ahmad et al. (2019), qualitative research provides insights into people's perceptions and behaviors through descriptive, narrative data. Data from quantitative research allows objective evaluations and forecasts (Kandel, 2020).

For my research topic, “How refugees and asylum seekers can get the culturally sensitive and trauma-informed mental health interventions they require,” I choose a qualitative technique. This is because this method provides in-depth research of participants' mental health intervention experiences, views, and cultural nuances. I will use Interviews and focus groups with refugees and asylum seekers to understand what complex experiences and the contextual factors affect their mental health care access and perspectives. I will use culturally appropriate recruitment tactics, multilingual or culturally competent interviewers, and validated items translated into participants' languages to ensure cultural sensitivity (Ahmad et al., 2019). I will reflect on my cultural biases and preconceptions throughout the research process as a way of ensuring the study is valid (Kandel, 2020).

References

Ahmad, S., Wasim, S., Irfan, S., Gogoi, S., Srivastava, A., & Farheen, Z. (2019). Qualitative v/s. quantitative research-a summarized review.  population,  1(2), 2828-2832. https://www.academia.edu/download/104933106/Sharique_Ahmed_--_FINAL.pdf

Kandel, B. (2020). Qualitative versus quantitative research.  Journal of Product Innovation Management,  32(5), 658. https://www.academia.edu/download/67682126/Qualitative_Vs_Quantitative_Research.pdf

LIBRARY SEARCHING

SOCW-6301

03/9/2024

LIBRARY SEARCHING

Mental health and justice-related issues

Within the social work field, my passion is related to mental health and justice-related issues. I strongly believe that we should keep ourselves well-informed and we should learn about the interaction of mental illness and the justice system (Hensel, et al., 2020). Social work has always been a particular heart issue for me due to a wish to work with socially disadvantaged groups of people and to help make society better and more socially fair. During my schooling adventure, I have found myself passionate about various concerns including using the trauma-sensitive approach, availability of good mental health services, and creation of intervention strategies for marginalized groups.

The prime concern I have is what works– and what does not –when it comes to mental health interventions that are provided to refugees and asylum seekers. As the number of those affected by leaving home is expanding, dealing with the problem of finding and giving culturally tailored and trauma-informed psych aid is becoming particularly important (Jannesari, et al., 2021). I am eager to discover the numerous hurdles taken up by displaced persons and asylum seekers, including the acculturation stress, trauma reactions manifestations, and the hindrances they face in seeking healthcare.

There is a need for engagement with the radical styles of well-being methods like empowerment to resilience development and solving the reflections in their experience (P. Iqbal,et al.,2022). This would mean looking at tradition and culture-based programs as well as other interventions like peer support are an integrated part of the approach to mental health.

I expect to make some contributions to this area through the research that I decide to conduct. So, I can provide evidence-based practices promoting mental well-being and integration of refugees and migrants. Also, apart from pullings for mental health disparities reduction among this population, I will be advocating for mental health-focused policies that will place the needs of this population first.

Search terms used: Mental health, marginalized groups, mental health approaches, and trauma-sensitive approach

References

Hensel, J. M., Casiano, H., Chartier, M. J., Ekuma, O., MacWilliam, L., Mota, N., ... & Bolton, J. M. (2020). Prevalence of mental disorders among all justice-involved: a population-level study in Canada.  International journal of law and psychiatry,  68, 101523.

Jannesari, S., Lotito, C., Turrini, G., Oram, S., & Barbui, C. (2021). How does context influence the delivery of mental health interventions for asylum seekers and refugees in low-and middle-income countries? A qualitative systematic review.  International Journal of Mental Health Systems,  15(1), 1-20.

P. Iqbal, M., Walpola, R., Harris‐Roxas, B., Li, J., Mears, S., Hall, J., & Harrison, R. (2022). Improving primary health care quality for refugees and asylum seekers: A systematic review of interventional approaches.  Health Expectations,  25(5), 2065-2094.

Updated Library Searching

SOCW-6301

Professor

03/16/2024

Updated Library Searching

After a week of searching through the Walden Library, I added three additional peer-reviewed mental health and justice research publications to my collection. I have added three more articles to my collection. These new sources include a wealth of information on mental health intervention design, judicial justice for refugees and victims of sexual misconduct/assault, and community-based psychosocial support initiatives.

Liebling et al. (2024) examined South Sudanese refugees in Northern Uganda and their views on sexual misconduct and torture. The article examines survivors' "viable justice" concept and the necessity for survivor-led justice initiatives that blend old-style and transitional justice with social justice. These findings demonstrate the need for survivor-focused justice models, which combine traditional and transitional justice protocols with social justice concepts (Liebling et al., 2024). This source will be vital as my research focuses on refugee justice and mental health treatment barriers and the need for culturally appropriate and survivor-focused solutions.

Lai (2023) stresses the need to revolutionize social work and policy by emphasizing well-being as social justice. Social justice should include distributive fairness, human dignity, equal worth, and self-esteem, according to Lai. This perspective fits my interest in how social work interventions might support refugees and asylum seekers with mental health difficulties. In highlighting structural inequality and social cohesion, Lai's article is fundamental. Consequently, it offers mental health policy and intervention development recommendations.

Bragin (2020) highlights Global South community-based psychological assistance programs for violence victims and their communities. Bragin stresses the need for contextualized interventions that address individual, interpersonal, and structural violence. This work supports my study on trauma-informed treatments for marginalized populations and community empowerment in healing and recovery.

These articles will help me fully understand mental health and justice interventions, frameworks, and community-based programs. They explore mental health, social justice, and community wellness. My research will combine these ideas to form a philosophy driving my social work practice and advocacy.

Keywords: Mental health interventions; Justice-involved populations; Refugees and asylum seekers; Trauma-informed approach; and Community-based psychosocial support.

References

Bragin, M. (2020). Community Based Psychosocial Support-Lessons from the Global South. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Martha-Bragin/publication/369693324_Bragin_-Community_Based_Psychosocial_Support_Community_Based_Psychosocial_Support-Lessons_from_the_Global_South_Chapter_X/links/644c31984af788735245aa13/Bragin-Community-Based-Psychosocial-Support-Community-Based-Psychosocial-Support-Lessons-from-the-Global-South-Chapter-X.pdf

Lai, D. W. (2023). Social justice as well-being: a radical rethinking of social work and social policy.  China Journal of Social Work,  16(3), 273-289. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/17525098.2023.2285049

Liebling, H. J., Barrett, H. R., Artz, L., & Shahid, A. (2024). Viable justice: survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and/or torture amongst South Sudanese refugees living in settlements in Northern Uganda.  International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJMHSC-12-2022-0121/full/html

Literature Review on Refugee Mental Health and Social Justice

SOCW-6301

Professor

4/4/2024

Literature Review on Refugee Mental Health and Social Justice

Traumatic events and cultural displacement cause mental health issues for refugees. These issues require social justice-based strategies that treat symptoms. Interventions can help refugee populations heal by addressing structural inequalities and systemic impediments that worsen mental health disparities. This literature review synthesizes peer-reviewed articles on refugee mental health and social justice. The review will examine survivor justice models, well-being and social justice, psychosocial environment, and mental health intervention issues in low- and middle-income countries.

Centering survivors' perspectives, experiences, and needs in survivor-focused justice models changes trauma, violence, and displacement response. Liebling et al. (2024) believe survivors should be empowered to seek justice and healing on their own terms. Their study among South Sudanese refugees in Northern Uganda presents "viable justice," which incorporates survivor-centered ideas into justice frameworks. Researchers claim this strategy blends traditional, transitional, and social justice. It supports survivor-led justice initiatives, deviating from standard methods. Viable justice uses survivor perspectives to fix gaps in existing systems, especially for refugees in situations where formal judicial procedures are weak. Through narrative interviews with refugee survivors and important informants, Liebling et al. highlight survivors' many obstacles, including instability, lack of confidence in transitional justice processes, and limited access to crucial resources. They promote gender-sensitive and culturally relevant justice initiatives that empower survivors to rehabilitate and thrive.

Refugee mental health discourse centers on well-being and social justice. Lai (2023) proposes redefining social justice and well-being in social work and policy. This reconceptualization requires addressing structural inequities and promoting human dignity, fairness, and self-esteem. Lai emphasizes the need to redistribute resources to reduce underprivileged people' mental health burdens. Interventions can improve refugee well-being and social cohesion by valuing individuals and their agency. Social justice as well-being is meeting fundamental necessities and creating a thriving environment. Lai (2023) defines well-being as the qualities necessary for a decent life and emphasizes the need to secure them for everyone to accomplish justice. This view corresponds with social welfare's goals of promoting well-being and reducing inequality. Thus, justice as well-being emphasizes the link between social fairness and a suitable environment for individuals to thrive.

Bragin (2020) defines contextualized psychosocial aid as mental health therapies that account for cultural and sociopolitical circumstances. Bragin stresses the potential of community-based psychological support programs, which empower disadvantaged populations through cultural values, traditions, and community leadership. These programs address interpersonal, systemic, and individual violence while building resilience and agency. societal workers, unlike other helping professions, must promote societal change, cohesion, and empowerment while they help people overcome many challenges. Bragin (2020) notes that social workers focus on communities, especially in the global south, where communal membership defines communities. Bio-psycho-social-spiritual interventions address community distress and require multi-level well-being methods. Contextualized social ecological psychological support programs boost resilience and well-being in communities. They work with spiritual and cultural healers to integrate care into society, economy, politics, and culture. These activities promote meaning-making in difficult times and address communal issues. Community-based approaches recognize the communal effects of structural, social, and interpersonal violence, emphasizing societal well-being. Integrating multiple disciplines within these programs boosts their efficacy and shows a collaborative approach to social issues.

In providing mental health services to refugees, LMICs have particular problems. Limited resources, political instability, and social marginalization hinder mental health treatment use. Jannesari et al. (2021) examine how setting affects asylum seeker and refugee mental health interventions in LMICs. Their qualitative systematic evaluation focuses on support during pressure and insecurity, cultural mental health ideas, and facilitator skills and relationships.

Revising the Research Question

After synthesizing refugee mental health and social justice literature, numerous major themes and gaps developed, suggesting a need to define and focus the study topic. First, survivor-focused justice models and refugee mental health therapies have shown the necessity of prioritizing survivors' perspectives and experiences. Thus, a modified research question will investigate how survivor-led initiatives improve refugee mental health therapies' efficacy and cultural sensitivity. Second, contextual factors influence refugee mental health interventions, especially in LMICs. Understanding how contextual issues like low resources, political instability, and social marginalization affect intervention delivery and effectiveness is crucial. Thus, a modified research question may examine how cultural, social, and political aspects affect refugee mental health treatment accessibility, acceptance, and sustainability in varied situations.

References

Bragin, M. Community Based Psychosocial Support-Lessons from the Global South. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Martha-Bragin/publication/369693324_Bragin_-Community_Based_Psychosocial_Support_Community_Based_Psychosocial_Support-Lessons_from_the_Global_South_Chapter_X/links/644c31984af788735245aa13/Bragin-Community-Based-Psychosocial-Support-Community-Based-Psychosocial-Support-Lessons-from-the-Global-South-Chapter-X.pdf

Jannesari, S., Lotito, C., Turrini, G., Oram, S., & Barbui, C. (2021). How does context influence the delivery of mental health interventions for asylum seekers and refugees in low-and middle-income countries? A qualitative systematic review.  International Journal of Mental Health Systems,  15, 1-20. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13033-021-00501-y

Lai, D. W. (2023). Social justice as well-being: a radical rethinking of social work and social policy.  China Journal of Social Work,  16(3), 273-289. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/17525098.2023.2285049

Liebling, H. J., Barrett, H. R., Artz, L., & Shahid, A. (2024). Viable justice: survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and/or torture amongst South Sudanese refugees living in settlements in Northern Uganda.  International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJMHSC-12-2022-0121/full/html