172 Patterns of change to mental health for refugees with PTSD: a qualitative longitudinal study of collaborations across sectors

Abstract OP 24: Refugees and Asylum Seekers 2, B210 (FCSH), September 4, 2025, 14:45 - 15:45 Mental health interventions operating across sectors have been proposed to better address the complex life situations influencing the mental health of refugees. However, knowledge about such interventions and how they come to affect the mental health of refugees with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remains sparse. The study aimed to explore patterns of change in mental health among refugees who participated in a cross-sector PTSD intervention in Denmark. This study employed a qualitative longitudinal research design, involving multiple interviews with each participant. In addition to trauma treatment, the intervention included three network meetings where refugees themselves, mental health professionals, and employment case workers met to make shared plans for managing postmigration stressors, including clarifying employability. Interviews were conducted with refugee participants at four time points throughout the one-year intervention and one year after. A pattern-oriented analysis helped identify three types of changes to mental health. Pattern one experienced mental health improvement throughout time. Pattern two first experienced mental health improvement during the intervention, and then declined and struggled afterwards. Pattern three experienced no notable change in mental health and accepted persistently poor mental health. Results indicated that the intervention supported patterns one and two in experiencing improved mental health. However, intervention adaptation is necessary to 1) prevent relapse as experienced in pattern two, and to 2) ensure that refugees have adequate access to the support for dealing with ongoing postmigration stressors and non-mental health challenges. In conclusion, the intervention does work for some refugees with PTSD, and with adaptations, it could be beneficial to even more refugees. Suggested adaptations include a greater focus on building agentic behaviour and facilitating access to long-lasting support by involving civil society and community actors in the cross-sectoral collaboration, since these actions could help sustain mental health over time.