A5054482619- Migration, Health and Trauma
- Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Family and Disability Support Research
- Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Infant Development and Preterm Care
- COVID-19 and Mental Health
- Global Maternal and Child Health
- Traumatic Brain Injury Research
- Child and Adolescent Health
- Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Family Support in Illness
- Child Abuse and Trauma
- Resilience and Mental Health
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Homelessness and Social Issues
- Educational and Psychological Assessments
- Health and Conflict Studies
- Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
- Socioeconomic Development in MENA
- Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Cerebral Palsy and Movement Disorders
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare
- Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
University of Amsterdam
2019-2025
War Child
2016-2025
Freie Universität Berlin
2023-2024
Koç University
2023-2024
United Nations Children's Fund
2024
World Health Organization
2022
Association pour la Recherche de Thérapeutiques Innovantes en Cancérologie
2022
The University of Queensland
2010-2020
Harvard Global Health Institute
2016-2019
UNSW Sydney
2019
BackgroundInnovative solutions are required to provide mental health support at scale in low-resource humanitarian contexts. We aimed assess the effectiveness of a facilitator-guided, group-based, self-help intervention (Self-Help Plus) reduce psychological distress female refugees.MethodsWe did cluster randomised trial rural refugee settlements northern Uganda. Participants were South Sudanese refugees with least moderate levels (cutoff ≥5 on Kessler 6). The comprised access usual care and...
Globally, 52.9 million children under the age of 5 experience a developmental disability, such as sensory impairment, intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders, 95% them live in low-and-middle-income countries. Most these lack access to care. In light growing evidence that caregivers can learn skills support their children's social communication adaptive behaviour reduce challenging behaviour, World Health Organization developed novel Caregiver Skills Training Programme (CST)...
Millions of young adolescents in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) affected by humanitarian crises experience elevated rates poor mental health. There is a need for scalable programs that can improve the health adolescents. This study evaluated effectiveness nonspecialist delivered group-based intervention (Early Adolescent Skills Emotions (EASE)) to adolescents' health.In this single-blind, parallel, controlled trial, Syrian refugees aged 10 14 years Jordan were identified through...
Abstract Background Globally, there is a vast mental health treatment gap, whereby the majority of adolescents living in low- and middle-income countries requiring services, do not have access to adequate care. To improve access, World Health Organization (WHO) developed range interventions, designed be low-cost delivered by non-specialists. We conducted two-arm, individually randomised group feasibility trial new WHO intervention for young with emotional distress (‘Early Adolescent Skills...
Abstract Background In humanitarian settings, brief screening instruments for child psychological distress have potential to assist in assessing prevalence, monitoring outcomes, and identifying children adolescents most need of scarce resources, given few mental health professionals diagnostic services. Yet, there are validated tools available, particularly Arabic. Methods We translated adapted the Child Psychosocial Distress Screener (CPDS) Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) conducted a...
Background Persistent behavioural difficulties are common following paediatric acquired brain injury ( ABI ). Parents and families also experience heightened stress, psychological symptoms burden, there is evidence of a reciprocal relationship between parent child functioning, which may be mediated by the adoption maladaptive parenting practices. Despite this, currently paucity research in family interventions this population. The aim study was to determine efficacy Stepping Stones Triple P:...
Objective: To qualitatively explore the experiences, challenges and needs of parents children with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in order to inform future intervention research through incorporation participant knowledge experience.
<ns4:p><ns4:bold>Background:</ns4:bold> Syrian refugees have a high burden of mental health symptoms and face challenges in accessing psychosocial support (MHPSS). This study assesses system responsiveness (HSR) to the MHPSS needs refugees, comparing countries Europe Middle East inform recommendations for strengthening systems.</ns4:p><ns4:p> <ns4:bold>Methods:</ns4:bold> A mixed-methods rapid appraisal methodology guided by an adapted WHO Health System Framework was used assess HSR eight...
To evaluate the feasibility and psychosocial outcomes of an Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based group resilience training program for people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Research Method/Design: The study used a pre-post intervention design 3-month follow-up. consisted 8 sessions 2.5 hours each 7 weekly plus booster Session 5 weeks later. Thirty-seven PwMS completed questionnaires. Primary were resilience, quality life (QoL), distress. Secondary ACT processes: mindfulness, defusion,...
In this period of unprecedented levels displacement, scalable interventions are needed to address mental health concerns forced migrants in low-resource settings. This paper describes the adaptation and piloting a guided, multi-media, self-help intervention, Self-Help Plus (SH+), which was developed reduce psychological distress large groups people affected by adversity.Using phased approach that included community consultations, cognitive interviewing, facilitator training, pilot...
Abstract Background A large mental health treatment gap exists among conflict-affected populations, and Syrian refugees specifically. Promising brief psychological interventions for populations exist such as the World Health Organization’s Problem Management Plus (PM+) Early Adolescent Skills Emotions (EASE) intervention, however, there is limited practical guidance countries of how these can be taken to scale. The aim this study was unpack pathways scaling up PM+ EASE refugees. Methods We...
HIV-affected families report higher rates of harmful alcohol use, intimate partner violence (IPV) and family conflict, which can have detrimental effects on children. Few evidence-based interventions exist to address these complex issues in Sub-Saharan Africa. This mixed methods study explores the potential a family-based intervention reduce IPV, conflict problems related use promote child mental health functioning within post-genocide Rwanda. A home-visiting, designed identify enhance...
Armed conflict leads to increased risk of emotional distress amongst children and adolescents, exposure significant daily stressors such as poverty community family violence. Unfortunately, these risks usually occur in the context largely unavailable mental health services. There is growing empirical support that evidence-based treatment techniques can be adapted delivered by non-specialists with high fidelity effectiveness. However, order improve feasibility, applicability, outcomes,...
Abstract Populations affected by armed conflict and other humanitarian crises are at elevated risk for mental health problems. While the COVID-19 pandemic has had broadly deleterious effects on livelihoods, economic well-being, population worldwide, vulnerable groups have been disproportionately impacted pandemic. Providing psychosocial support (MHPSS) services during these times to groups, especially in low- middle-income countries settings, is essential. In an effort comply with public...
<ns3:p>Background Syrian refugees have a high burden of mental health symptoms and face challenges in accessing psychosocial support (MHPSS). This study assesses system responsiveness (HSR) to the MHPSS needs refugees, comparing countries Europe Middle East inform recommendations for strengthening systems Methods A mixed-methods rapid appraisal methodology guided by an adapted WHO Health System Framework was used assess HSR eight (Egypt, Germany, Jordan, Lebanon, Netherlands, Sweden,...
Objective To consider the relationship of parental experiential avoidance (EA) to psychological symptoms and problematic parenting strategies after pediatric acquired brain injury (ABI). Methods Using available data from a randomized controlled trial group-based Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) workshop plus behavioral family intervention (BFI) for parents children with ABI (n = 59), correlational mediational analyses were conducted role EA as process change parent outcomes. Results...