New research project: Better trauma treatment for ukrainian refugees
Kristiania University College has received almost NOK 400,000 from Stiftelsen Dam for a research project aimed at helping war-affected Ukrainian refugees with trauma. The project also aims to provide Ukrainian healthcare workers in Norway with new competencies.
– This project offers us a unique opportunity to help Ukrainian refugees while integrating Ukrainian healthcare workers into Norwegian working life, says Vanessa Nolasco Ferreira, Associate Professor of Psychology at Høyskolen Kristiania.
Specialized trauma treatment in the native language
The research project, named "Empowering Narrative: Self-Help for Ukrainian Refugees," will train Ukrainian healthcare workers in Norway in Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET). The goal is for these healthcare workers to then provide treatment to other Ukrainian refugees in their own language.
– By offering training in narrative exposure therapy, we can make a significant contribution to treating trauma symptoms and improving the quality of life for many who have experienced war and displacement. At the same time, we consider the cultural context, says Ferreira.
Language barriers hinder effective help
Ferreira has also led another research project at Kristiania involving Ukrainian refugees (FactArt - Community in Sight). In that project, translators had to be used to treat Ukrainian refugees with the NET method, which proved challenging.
– There is a significant language barrier between Ukrainian and Norwegian. Most Ukrainians do not speak English, and their international language is often Russian. It takes a long time for these refugees to learn Norwegian well enough to talk about their traumatic experiences, and therefore we had to use translators in this project, explains Ferreira.
She points out that the use of interpreters in therapy can be problematic:
– The more people involved in a therapeutic setting, the harder it becomes to establish a good relationship and provide effective treatment.
Digital course and supervised practice
The two-year research project started in August this year and aims to develop a digital course for 20 to 30 Ukrainian healthcare workers. After the course, participants will receive supervised practice using the NET method on other refugees.
– It is much easier to receive treatment from someone who speaks your native language and understands your culture. It makes it easier to build a therapeutic alliance, says Ferreira.
The college collaborates with several organizations in the project, including Mental Helse and NAV. They also have international partners, such as Universität Konstanz in Germany, where the NET method was developed.
About the project
- Name: "Empowering Narrative: Self-Help for Ukrainian Refugees"
- Duration: August 20, 2024 - April 20, 2026
- Funding from Stiftelsen Dam: NOK 397,000
- Total Budget: NOK 1,168,000
- Goal: Training Ukrainian healthcare workers in NET and treating trauma symptoms among Ukrainian refugees
- Partners: Mental Helse, NAV, Universität Konstanz (Germany), Norwegian-Ukrainian Aid Organization, Vårsta Diakoni
Better integration and new knowledge
– We hope this project can contribute to better integration of Ukrainian refugees in Norway, both for those who receive treatment and for healthcare workers who acquire new skills, says Ferreira.
She emphasizes that many Ukrainian refugees struggle to adapt to life in Norway.
– Many meet the criteria for PTSD and complex PTSD. This makes it difficult for them to learn the language, understand society, and integrate into the workforce, she says.
The research team will collect data on the effectiveness of the treatment. This can provide valuable insights into refugee mental health, which is becoming increasingly important in a world marked by conflicts and climate change.
The project has a total budget of over NOK 1.1 million, with Høyskolen Kristiania contributing its own resources in addition to the support from Stiftelsen Dam.