Exchange and Learning for Psychologists and Social Workers: Integration of Youths with Migration Background Erasmus Project

Project Title

Exchange and Learning for Psychologists and Social Workers: Integration of Youths with Migration Background

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for youth

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Integration of refugees; Post-conflict/post-disaster rehabilitation; Migrants’ issues

Project Summary

The project is a learning tool for organizations providing mental health support for migrant and refugee youth. It involves NGO partners in seven countries (Poland, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Bulgaria, Hungary and Germany), which specialize in providing psychological counselling to migrant youth. The project also makes space for local stakeholders in each country to benefit from the professional experience of the participating organizations.
Researchers vary in their judgement on mental health condition of refugees and migrants, WHO analysis show. Yet, it is established that in this population PTSD, depression, anxiety disorders and trauma-related disorders are much more frequent than in general population in Europe. The connection between mental health of migrants and their integration abilities is not yet properly reviewed. In some countries, access to mental health support for migrants is extremelly limited and competent counsellors are hard to find.
The organizations participating in this project are invited to exchange competencies, tools and ways in providing psychological support to migrants, as each of them approaches the issue from a different perspective and can share unique experience. In a series of four 3-day trainings taking place in selected countries (Turkey, Greece, Germany and Poland) the organizations can get familiar with each other’s working context, and its specifity, experiences and best practices. Each one is expected to present their working tools to the group. Each training enables extensive discussion on various obstacles faced by psychologists working with migrants. Young migrants and refugees are invited to share their perspective on the issue. Each training also provides space for discussion on practical arrangements and accessibility of mental health support for the beneficiary group.
The three key areas around which the trainings are focussed involve:
1. Psychological help as part of systemic work with migrant youth.
2. Assisting youth victims of torture and trauma,
3. Short-term intervention in the case of youths.
In addition, topics analyzed by the group will include supervision, accessibility of psychological and psychiatric help in multicultural contexts, involving volunteers and mobilizing social support in the context of youth migrant mental health needs, systemic support for families, also young single mothers, psychological first-aid.
The trainings have a set format that includes presentation/workshop, discussion, study visit and a separate module relating to practical organization of psychological help (access, language, work online, safe location and other aspects). Each training lasts three days. The partners in the project share responsibility of organizing the content of events, based on their individual competencies.
The purpose of this project is to increase competencies of partners involved and gain a better cross-European awareness on the system of psychological work available to migrant youth. Our long term goals are two-fold:
– we wish to build partnership of more European organizations providing psychological assistance to migrant youth, gather a collection of best practices and jointly promote them in Europe,
– we wish to encourage local stakeholders to take more consideration of mental health needs of migrant youth. We hope that state systems of this assistance are improved in countries, where they are not developed yet. We also aim at promoting awareness of the importance of mental health among migrant integration professionals and stakeholders.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 73551 Eur

Project Coordinator

FUNDACJA POLSKIE FORUM MIGRACYJNE & Country: PL

Project Partners

• Nadja Centre Foundation
• ARSIS KOINONIKI ORGANOSI YPOSTIRIXIS NEON
• IPSO gemeinnützige Gesellschaft mbH – International Psycho-Social Organization
• CORDELIA ALAPITVANY A SZERVEZETT EROSZAK ALDOZATAIERT
• Siginmacilar ve Gocmenlerle Dayanisma Dernegi
• OPEN GROUP SOCIETA COOPERATIVA SOCIALE O.N.L.U.S.