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Mind-SpringMind-Springa a preventivepreventive intervention intervention
• Psycho-education, psychosocial and parenting Psycho-education, psychosocial and parenting support for refugees and asylum seekers support for refugees and asylum seekers in their in their own language and culture own language and culture
• Carried out by a Carried out by a trainer with a refugeetrainer with a refugee background background and a and a professionalprofessional from within the mental health from within the mental health care systemcare system
• The cooperation with trainers from within the The cooperation with trainers from within the (refugee) community is comparable to MSF (refugee) community is comparable to MSF counseling programs in Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka counseling programs in Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka etc.etc.
Appreciated by participantsAppreciated by participants
-- Former and newly acquired identity (self-image and possibilities)Former and newly acquired identity (self-image and possibilities)
- Feeling more secure in Dutch culture- Feeling more secure in Dutch culture
- Coping with daily hassles, complaints- Coping with daily hassles, complaints
- Normal reaction to abnormal situations, trauma, grief, depression, stress- Normal reaction to abnormal situations, trauma, grief, depression, stress
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Interactions with fellow participantsInteractions with fellow participants- Discussions in own language /culture/ religion- Discussions in own language /culture/ religion
- Sharing experiences and coping strategies with fellow asylum - Sharing experiences and coping strategies with fellow asylum seekers /refugeesseekers /refugees
ExerciseExercise
““What is important?”What is important?”
““How much control do you have?”How much control do you have?”
““What area do you put most energy in?”What area do you put most energy in?”
““What area is within your control?”What area is within your control?”
SubjectsSubjects
More feelings of control than beforeMore feelings of control than before- “Damage control” - “Damage control” for the time being (asylum seekers centre)for the time being (asylum seekers centre)
Effects of trainer and co-trainerEffects of trainer and co-trainer- Being heard- Being heard
- Positive attitude, remodelling of trainer- Positive attitude, remodelling of trainer
““I experienced the training as being I experienced the training as being a personal support, I learnt a lot.”a personal support, I learnt a lot.”
““I consider the subjects in the I consider the subjects in the training as very relevant to the training as very relevant to the situation that I am in right now.”situation that I am in right now.”
““I notice I do not get as agitated as I I notice I do not get as agitated as I did before the course. Whenever did before the course. Whenever someone got angry at me, I reacted someone got angry at me, I reacted furious. I do not do this anymore and furious. I do not do this anymore and also have less problem sleeping.”also have less problem sleeping.”
““We now have become our own doctors”.We now have become our own doctors”.
““Mind-Spring is like a community” Mind-Spring is like a community” (facilitates trust and recognition)(facilitates trust and recognition)
““It helped me to learn that I am not the It helped me to learn that I am not the only one having problems.”only one having problems.”
““I now have more understanding of I now have more understanding of mental problems.”mental problems.”
SomeSome quotes from participants quotes from participants
EffectsEffects of Mind-Spring program of Mind-Spring program
Spin off’s for the Mind-Spring trainersSpin off’s for the Mind-Spring trainers
RefugeesRefugees– Useful work experience, chance of proving Useful work experience, chance of proving
qualitiesqualities– Internship for studies (social work/psychology)Internship for studies (social work/psychology)– Practicing Dutch language in field of professionPracticing Dutch language in field of profession– IntegrationIntegration– Helpful for own personal problemsHelpful for own personal problems
Asylum seekersAsylum seekers– Meaningful spending of timeMeaningful spending of time– Improved self-esteemImproved self-esteem– Work experience, to be used either in the Work experience, to be used either in the
Netherlands or back at the country of originNetherlands or back at the country of origin– Helpful for own personal problemsHelpful for own personal problems
The first training executed by Mind-Spring trainers needs to ‘mentored’ by mental health care professional (unless MS trainer is also mental health care prof.), since this functions as an internship following the Training of trainers
Overall supervision/intervision is suggested to improve trainers’ qualities and discuss difficulties or emotions