@article{Jumaa_Heinz_2020, title={Gender-Sensitive Peer Counselling Groups in Times of Conflict Reflections on a Self-Help Support Group in Berlin}, volume={3}, url={http://tiikmpublishing.com/proceedings/index.php/fow/article/view/613}, DOI={10.17501/26028646.2020.3102}, abstractNote={<p><span class="fontstyle0">The arrival of stark number of forcibly displaced refugees in Germany since 2015 has led<br>to increased challenges in the mental health care system. The system was overburdened, and<br>therefore innovative approaches to health care for refugees were necessary in order to gain<br>knowledge about their expansion and admission to regular care. To increase knowledge of refugees<br>regarding mental health services and to provide practical support, a manual for peer-to-peer<br>counseling was developed at Charité University Medical Center Berlin and refugees were trained as<br>peer counsellors. This paper aims to give an overview of previous peer support interventions<br>published in literature and to also point out to the preliminary results from the intervention<br>conducted at the Charité. Good practices and recommendations for peer interventions are provided.<br>Qualitative interviews were conducted with the group participants, and results show that peer groups<br>helped refugees in sharing experiences, in giving ideas for possible solutions, in building<br>social/friendship networks, and in providing a safe place for discussions. The results of our study<br>suggest that integrating gender-sensitive peer support approaches in the mental health services for<br>refugees may benefit the public health by reducing both need and demand for these services.</span></p>}, number={1}, journal={Proceedings of the International Conference on Future of Women}, author={Jumaa, Jinan Abi and Heinz, Andreas}, year={2020}, month={Jul.}, pages={12–24} }