Background: The number of forced migrants worldwide has been rising for years. Many forced migrants suffer from PTSD, yet demand for mental health care is high and waiting times long. Group-based...Show moreBackground: The number of forced migrants worldwide has been rising for years. Many forced migrants suffer from PTSD, yet demand for mental health care is high and waiting times long. Group-based interventions provide a solution, as they allow for the treatment of more patients. They also provide some unique benefits beyond those of individual therapy. Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of group-based psychological and psychosocial interventions in reducing symptoms of PTSD in child, adolescent, and adult forced migrants, and to investigate treatment predictors (treatment type, gender, age, and number of sessions). Methods: We conducted systematic searches in PubMed and Web of Science, searched the preprint server Biorxiv.org, and performed a grey literature search (final search date: March 9, 2022). A random-effects model was used for data synthesis, and moderator and subgroup analyses were performed with the predictors. Results: The systematic search yielded 38 eligible studies, including 43 treatment arms. Results showed significant effects of group therapy in reducing PTSD symptoms (Cohen’s d = -0.89, 95% CI = [-1.06, -0.72], SE = 0.085, z = -10.437, p < .001), with substantial heterogeneity. It is likely that publication bias existed. The selected predictors did not affect outcomes. Conclusion: Group therapy effectively reduces PTSD symptoms in forced migrants. Considering its cost and time efficiency and other benefits, practitioners should consider implementing group therapy (more frequently). Future studies will need to consider other predictors, compare group therapy with individual therapy, and evaluate long term effects.Show less
Forced migration is an endemic and worldwide phenomenon that results from human or nature induced conflicts such as (violent) conflicts, persecution or natural disasters. People are coerced to...Show moreForced migration is an endemic and worldwide phenomenon that results from human or nature induced conflicts such as (violent) conflicts, persecution or natural disasters. People are coerced to migrate to seek safety since they are often at the risk of their life. The issue of forced migration is generally tackled through institutions and international legal systems through top-down approaches, especially because forced migrants often have to cross international borders. While some forced migrants have improved living conditions in comparison to their pre-migration situation, a lot of forced migrants end up in refugee camps, where they experience poor living conditions. There, they are often excluded from their host community and their humanitarian needs are not always met. A more collaborative and communal approach through human agency has been neglected in comparison to the top-down approaches. For voluntary migrants, interactions and relationships with the host community have been shown to benefit their well-being. This thesis aims to examine how the sense of community affects the quality of life of forced migrants, especially when they arrive in their host community, because forced migrants often have to leave their home community and family network behind.Show less
This thesis reflects on historical and contemporary issues around representational practices and visual politics of creating and displaying refugee subject matter in art. This paper aims to open up...Show moreThis thesis reflects on historical and contemporary issues around representational practices and visual politics of creating and displaying refugee subject matter in art. This paper aims to open up broader discussions about cultural institutions and artists’ responsibilities in producing counter-narratives that service refugees’ perspectives and voices. By doing so, museums and relevant artists can avoid perpetuating existing tropes and ensure that their own agendas are secondary to what the subject of their work (in this case, refugee and asylum seekers) wishes to convey. By means of concrete examples of artists and artwork, the author attempts to bring forth a discussion on the ethical considerations for artists involved in collaborative projects with refugees and asylum seekers by questioning and challenging various frameworks and existing modes of representation within contemporary art discourse. The author proposes different modes of representation that service the ‘protagonist’s’ story first, referring to concepts and practices through which to understand the construction of visual narratives surrounding refugees; thus establishing how these practices can be effective beyond simply making things visible.Show less
