Mind-Spring © P. Sterk, B. Kieft 2002-2010 1 our sponsors our sponsors “Mind-Spring”2010Athens...

Mind-Spring © P. Sterk, B. Kieft 2002-20101

www.mind-spring.orgwww.mind-spring.org

our sponsorsour sponsors

““Mind-Spring”Mind-Spring”20102010

AthensAthensEefje SmetEefje Smet

Barbara KieftBarbara Kieft

A psycho-education programA psycho-education program by and for by and for

refugees and asylumseekersrefugees and asylumseekers


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.


Content psycho-education Content psycho-education Mind-SpringMind-Spring

Information (psycho-education)

On subjects as: - stress, trauma, depression, feelings of guilt,

changed identity, acculturation,

- Mental health care in the Netherlands


Content psycho-education Mind-SpringContent psycho-education Mind-Spring

- Sharing of experiences, but also sharing feelings of sorrow, anger and frustration

- Coping with problems and their consequences

- Rediscovering one’s own strengths and defining areas of control, positive self (identity)

- Learning to be responsible for one’s own well-being.


Content psycho-education Mind-SpringContent psycho-education Mind-Spring

Signaling

- When necessary, participants can be referred to professional help by the trainers

- Participants learn how to recognise their own problems and how to ask for further help


““Results”Results”


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

?? ??

?? ??

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


www.mind-spring.orgwww.mind-spring.org


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


Starting a Mind-Spring programStarting a Mind-Spring program

Training high-educated refugees Embedding program in mental health

care (cooperation Mind-Spring trainer, mental health care worker)

Networking within refugee communities, or organizations who work with refugees

Supervision trainers/workers


Training of trainersTraining of trainers

Recruiting refugees (preferably highly educated, background/affinity helping others, motivated for psychosocial work)

Materials (reader for trainers)Minimal 8 full days of training by

mental health care professionals who know the Mind-Spring methodology

Practice of two trainings


Embedding program mental health Embedding program mental health (1)(1)Defining responsible ‘umbrella’

organization (i.e. Red Cross)Ensure finances for Mind-Spring

training (compare Dutch sit. Health ensurance or community funding)

Locate qualified professionals (psychologists, psyhiatric nurses, preferably with experience helping refugees)


Embedding mental health care(2)Embedding mental health care(2)

• Training of professionals in Mind-Spring methodology

• Locate refugee group for Mind-Spring training (see also next slide)

• Matching of refugee training (language, culture of Mind-Spring group) with professional


Networking within refugee Networking within refugee communities communities Use contacts of refugee trainer or

others (key-figures) who know the refugee communities to inform and recruite participants

Be open to needs that specific communities may have in regard to content of training, but also time of training, location etc.


Recruitment, forming of groupsRecruitment, forming of groups In cooperation with asylum seekers centre

authorities or medical staff In cooperation with refugee organizations,

through community networking Active role of refugee trainer is important factor

for success


Supervision trainers/workersSupervision trainers/workers

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


IdentityIdentity

What roles did you have in What roles did you have in country of origin?country of origin?

Who are you now / what Who are you now / what roles do you have now?roles do you have now?

????

????

????

??

????


Identity en changed identityIdentity en changed identity

Exercise from Exercise from

the handbookthe handbook


Asylum-seeker

Teacher

Father

Teacher

Soccer player

Father, head of family

Owner of house

asylumseeker

soccer coach

father

volunteer teacher

janitor at asylum seekers centre

Self identity at asylum-seeker center

Self identity in country of origin

New self identity in the future

Mind-Spring © P. Sterk, B. Kieft 2002-2010 1 our sponsors our sponsors “Mind-Spring”2010Athens...

Documents

Transcript of Mind-Spring © P. Sterk, B. Kieft 2002-2010 1 our sponsors our sponsors “Mind-Spring”2010Athens...