Child and young people of crisis – mental health, resilience, and their determinants among forcibly displaced persons

Research problem and specific questions: In line with the call, this project addresses the prevalence and distribution of well-being, mental issues, and psychiatric disorders, as well as the underlying explanatory factors and driving forces.

We will study these matters among forcibly displaced children (13-18-years) and young people/adults (18-25-years) who arrive in Sweden. The study population includes war refugees from Ukraine.

The analyses will be done both at the group level and by using person-centered approaches to directly address the heterogeneity within the group and urgent gaps in knowledge.

The specific research objectives are: 1) Provide in-depth data on mental health and its determinants, 2) Advance understanding of resilience and its mechanisms, 3) Translate the understanding of mental health, resilience, and their determinants to clinical applications and societal changes (e.g., policy briefs, toolbox) via participatory research, knowledge dissemination, and multisectoral capacity building.Data and method: This ongoing project (n=280 recruited by now) with a longitudinal and cross-sectional design, several study arms, and a straightforward participatory research approach.

The analyses are done using quantitative, qualitative, and experimental methods both at the group level and by using person-centered approaches.Plan for project realization: The research group has complementary interdisciplinary and multi-professional competencies.

Research is conducted in a broad collaboration with children and young people with refugee backgrounds and other stakeholders.Relevance: The project addresses critical - and due to the current mass migration - urgent knowledge gaps regarding mental health and resilience among forcibly displaced children and young adults.

Understanding differences in mental health is a critical first step in ensuring that all children´s mental health needs are met. This project translates findings into strategies for prevention and early support, and hands-on methods.

This facilitates a paradigm shift from disease-focused research and practice to health and prevention-focused approaches.

By providing data on health inequalities and exposures to adversity and applying a child and stakeholder participatory research approach, this project fosters the implementation of the UNCRC, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU, the Public Health Strategy, and The Gender Equality Policy and the UN SDG goals.