398 Refugee perspectives on mental health care: an evaluation of treatment satisfaction in a German Pilot project

Abstract EP2.4, e-Poster Terminal 2, September 4, 2025, 11:35 - 12:55 Background & Aims Being exposed to pre- and peri-migration trauma as well as numerous post-migration stressors such as discrimination and social strain, asylum seekers and refugees (ASR) show an increased psychiatric morbidity and a high burden of disease. Paradoxically, their access to mental health care in many host countries such as Germany remains severely restricted due to numerous barriers (e.g. legal, structural, cultural aspects), resulting in a substantial treatment gap. To address this issue, the state-funded project refuKey in Germany has implemented a stepped care approach that connects psychiatric clinics with easily accessible, low-threshold Psychosocial Counselling Centers (PCCs), together forming so-called cooperative competence-centers. This study aims to assess treatment satisfaction among ASR receiving care within refuKey’s PCCs and to explore its connection to treatment outcomes. Methods Within the naturalistic, multi-centered evaluation study, ASR fill out internationally validated questionnaires, available in eleven languages, to assess mental health parameters (pre/post) as well as surveys regarding treatment experiences and satisfaction (post). Results & Conclusions Participants reported high overall satisfaction with the treatment, staff, and communication in refuKey’s PCCs. Mental health symptoms decreased significantly over treatment. Significant positive correlations were found for treatment satisfaction and symptom reduction in depression, anxiety, and trauma-related symptoms. Qualitative results revealed three main themes forming positive treatment experience and perceived helpfulness: 1.) Relational and interpersonal factors, 2.) verbal interaction & communication, and 3.) perceived treatment effects. Findings reveal the prominence of relational and interpersonal aspects of care for ASR and underline the impact of culturally sensitive and multimodal interventions as well as the relevance of improving access for ASR through needs-adapted, low threshold treatments.