Developing and Piloting a Low-Intensity Family Support Intervention for Syrian Refugees

Background.This study developed and pilot tested a transdiagnostic family intervention for urban refugee families in LMICs with limited to no access to evidence-based mental health services using a task-sharing approach.Methods.A Family Support Design Team designed the Low Intensity Family Support (LIFS) model, trained the facilitators, and oversaw the implementation.The model was piloted with 70 Syrian refugee families (n=111 adolescents and n=104 adults) recruited from six communitybased organizations in Istanbul.Measures on mental health and psychosocial wellbeing were collected at baseline, and post-intervention at 1-month and 3-months after baseline.A mixed methods design assessed the feasibility, acceptability, and impact of the LIFS model. Results. General psychological distress and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)decreased significantly for adults and adolescents.Among adults, attitudes regarding mental health and satisfaction with parenting significantly improved.Family comfort discussing distress mediated the intervention's impact on psychological distress and PTSD.Qualitative findings identified benefits resulting from participation in the LIFS intervention, especially increased emotional regulation, knowledge of mental health, mental health help-seeking, and family communication. Conclusions.Results indicated that the LIFS model was feasible, acceptable, and potentially efficacious in decreasing psychological distress and PTSD in adolescent and adult urban refugees.