Readiness of allied professionals to join the mental health workforce: a qualitative evaluation of trained lay trauma counsellors’ experiences when refugee youth disclose suicidal ideation

Löfving Gupta, SandraUppsala universitet,Socialmedicin/CHAP,Centrum för klinisk forskning, Gävleborg (författare)

Readiness of allied professionals to join the mental health workforce : a qualitative evaluation of trained lay trauma counsellors’ experiences when refugee youth disclose suicidal ideation

The recent refugee crisis presented a huge challenge for the Swedish mental health workforce. Hence, innovative mental health workforce solutions were needed. Unaccompanied refugee minors (URM) are a particularly vulnerable refugee group. Teaching Recovery Techniques (TRT) was introduced as a community-based intervention utilising trained lay counsellors in a stepped model of care for refugee youth experiencing trauma symptoms. Professionals (e.g., teachers, social workers) can deliver the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy-based intervention after a brief training. A point of debate in this workforce solution is the readiness of trained lay counsellors to deal with potentially demanding situations like disclosure of suicidal ideation. This study aimed to explore the TRT trained lay counsellors’ experiences of procedures upon URM’s disclosure of suicidal ideation. Individual semi-structured interviews with TRT trained lay counsellors were conducted, then analysed using systemic text condensation. The analysis revealed four themes: “Importance of safety structures”, “Collaboration is key”, “Let sleeping dogs lie” and “Going the extra mile”. Dealing with suicidal ideation is challenging and feelings of helplessness occur. Adding adequate supervision and specific training on suicidal ideation using role play is recommended. Collaboration between agencies and key stakeholders is essential when targeting refugee mental health in a stepped care model.

Wijk, KatarinaUppsala universitet,Högskolan i Gävle,Arbetshälsovetenskap,Centrum för belastningsskadeforskning,Uppsala University; Centre for Research and Development, Region Gävleborg/Uppsala University,Centrum för klinisk forskning, Gävleborg,Hälso- och sjukvårdsforskning,Department of Occupational Health Sciences and Psychology, Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, University of Gävle, 801 76 Gävle, Sweden(Swepub:uu)katwi981 (författare)
Warner, GeorginaUppsala universitet,Socialmedicin/CHAP(Swepub:uu)geowa922 (författare)
Sarkadi, Anna,Professor,1974-Uppsala universitet,Socialmedicin/CHAP(Swepub:uu)annasark (författare)
Uppsala universitetSocialmedicin/CHAP (creator_code:org_t)

Ingår i:International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: MDPI18:41661-78271660-4601

Av författaren/redakt...: Löfving Gupta, S ...; Wijk, Katarina; Warner, Georgina; Sarkadi, Anna, P ...

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