Study Shows Telephone Therapy Effective for Refugee Children

A study conducted by the University of Surrey has determined that telephone therapy can be advantageous for refugee children experiencing mental health difficulties. The research indicated that this form of remote support led to a “strong and consistent” reduction in mental health symptoms and achieved a significantly greater completion rate when contrasted with face-to-face treatment options. Professor Michael Pluess spearheaded the study, which included 20 Syrian refugees residing in Lebanon’s Beqa’a region, with ages ranging from eight to 17. Professor Pluess stated, “The number of forcibly displaced persons due to war and emergencies is rising and refugee children are often left with severe trauma.” He added, “We need innovative solutions to provide much-needed therapy in humanitarian settings.” Speaking to the BBC, he explained that this research has the potential to enhance treatment accessibility, given that refugee communities frequently possess mobile phones, even while encountering “very limited” mental health care services within their host nations. According to the UNHCR, Lebanon accommodates the highest number of refugees per capita globally. The Lebanese government estimates that 1.5 million Syrian refugees currently reside within its borders. The therapeutic intervention, administered in Arabic by trained local individuals, employed the Common Elements Treatment Approach (CETA), which Professor Pluess compared to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Johns Hopkins University in the US, the American University of Beirut in Lebanon, and the Queen Mary University of London also participated in this research endeavor. In a statement, the University of Surrey further noted that the stigma associated with seeking mental health services and insufficient comprehension of treatment processes resulted in fewer participants volunteering for the study than initially expected.