Developing an On-Line Intervention Targeting Mental Health Stigma in Refugee Men

Refugees report elevated rates of psychological disorders including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Despite this, levels of help-seeking for mental health difficulties are low, especially amongst refugee men. This... [ view full abstract ]

Refugees report elevated rates of psychological disorders including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Despite this, levels of help-seeking for mental health difficulties are low, especially amongst refugee men. This presentation reports on the development of an online intervention targeting stigma related to PTSD in refugee men from Arabic, Farsi and Tamil-speaking backgrounds. Qualitative interviews were conducted with community leaders, representatives, and service providers to understand the nature of mental health stigma in these communities. This information was combined with the broader evidence-base to design “Tell Your Story”, an online intervention comprising videos, psychoeducation and interactive activities. Techniques used in this intervention were based on best-practice principles for stigma reduction, and adapted for the three target cultural groups. This presentation will describe the components of the intervention, as well as the development and implementation phase of “Tell Your Story”.