There is adequate data on refugee mental health to accept the assumption that refugees in the U.S., as compared to the general population, are at increased risk for depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (Hauff & Vaglum, 1995; Pernice & Brook, 1994). Refugee women are at greater risk for depression than refugee men and social support has been widely suggested as a buffer to depression and other negative mental health outcomes (Horowitz, 1998; Neugebauer, 1997). Support groups may be one mechanism by which support is offered to refugee women. Few program descriptions of successful support groups exist. This author will report on a 2-year innovative program (1998-1999) that offered support groups to Bosnian and Cuban women (n=25) in Central Texas. The report will discuss what did and did not work well, and the struggle to find appropriate outcome measurement tools. Finally, the costs and benefits of the program will be discussed as compared to other forms of refugee mental health interventions.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to: 1. Assess barriers of access to support group participation for refugee women. 2. Discuss possible outcome measures for refugee women's support groups. 3. Evaluate costs and benefits of a refugee women's support group program.
Keywords: Refugees, Women
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: School of Nursing
University of Texas at Austin
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.