430 From research to action – mental health support for refugees

Abstract WKS 6: From Research to Action – Mental Health Support for Refugees, B309 (FCSH), September 3, 2025, 15:45 - 16:45 Background and Objectives People with a refugee background face significant mental health challenges. This workshop will showcase how research on refugee mental health has been used to improve well-being through various development projects and operational models in Finland. First, we will present findings from several Finnish health surveys on mental health and health inequalities. Second, we will demonstrate how these insights have been applied in practice through different mental health-focused projects. The workshop aims to enhance participants’ skills in utilizing high-quality research data for mental health development projects. Workshop Plan The seminar is divided into three presentations. The first part (10 minutes) will review findings from Finnish health surveys on the mental health of refugees and migrants. The second part (10 minutes) will introduce the PALOMA projects, which developed a model for refugee mental health work in Finland, including the PALOMA handbook, PALOMA training, and the PALOMA Center of Expertise in Refugee Mental Health Work. The third part (10 minutes) will focus on co-creation. The TUULI project co-created psychoeducational videos with refugees to reduce stigma, fear, and misconceptions surrounding mental health. The TAVATA project applied co-creation to develop an online training course for Finnish reception center staff, enhancing their mental health literacy and support skills. Following each presentation, we will engage participants through discussions and group activities (3 x 10 minutes). Participants are encouraged to share their experiences and inspire one another with examples of research and/or development initiatives that have influenced policy and practice. Main Messages