TraM

Understanding and Supporting Traumatized Refugee Minors: Developing a Low-Threshold Screening and Support Portal as the Basis of a Comprehensive Psychosocial Assessment Model

Project duration: 01/09/2019 - 31/08/2022

Principal investigators: Prof. Dr. Luzi Beyer, Prof. Dr. Silke Gahleitner (subproject ASH Berlin)

Project staff: Annina Fischer, Lisa Große (research assistants)

Partners:

• Rheinische Fachhochschule Köln - University of Applied Sciences
• Hochschule Niederrhein - University of Applied Sciences
• HMKW Hochschule für Medien, Kommunikation und Wirtschaft - University of Applied Sciences

Abstract:
Many people from threatened regions seek refuge in Germany. Especially minor (unaccompanied) refugees are a vulnerable group. Many of them have experienced critical life events and traumatic experiences. Therefore, minor (unaccompanied) refugees need support services and resources to enable a successful integration. As a form of support for them, the consortium plans to develop a low-threshold yet viable three-stage screening, support and diagnostic concept.
The first stage involves raising the awareness of minor refugees with interactive content and the accompanying identification of psychological disorders. This (early) identification is carried out by means of Affective Computing procedures of the AI, which are based on device-supported audio-video analysis. This step is intended to ensure an ethically tested, low-threshold entry into the field of assistance (screening).
The second stage opens up the possibility for underage refugees to make contact with peers who offer videochat-based advisory support services within an online platform. The bringing together of young people (refugees and suitable peers), the subsequent exchange of experience and information between the different actors as well as the presentation of psychosocial support form a central pillar of this support portal.
The third stage is a demand-oriented forwarding to the psychosocial care system via the portal. Along the basic concept of "Diagnostic Case Understanding", the model should be developed empirically together with the affected persons and practitioners on site and then be ready for use and transferable to other regions.

Funding:  Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)

Publications:
Böhm-Fischer, A., Große, L., Gahleitner, S., & Beyer, L. (2023). TraM – Traumatisierte minderjährige Geflüchtete verstehen und unterstützen. Ergebnisse eines Interdisziplinären Entwicklungsprojekts. [TraM - Understanding and Supporting Traumatized Minor Refugees: Findings from an Interdisciplinary Development Project.] Logos Verlag. ISBN 978-3-8325-5610-5.

Beyer, L., Gahleitner, S., & Krajewski, J. (2023). Das Projekt TraM und Zielsetzung des Projektes. [The Project TraM and its Objectives.] In: A. Böhm-Fischer, & L. Beyer (Eds.), TraM – Traumatisierte minderjährige Geflüchtete verstehen und unterstützen. Ergebnisse eines Interdisziplinären Entwicklungsprojekts [TraM - Understanding and Supporting Traumatized Minor Refugees: Findings from an Interdisciplinary Development Project.], pp. 1-6.

Böhm-Fischer, A., & Beyer, L. (2023). Ethische, legale und soziale Implikationen (ELSI) bei der Verwendung von künstlicher Intelligenz in der Diagnose von vulnerablen Gruppen. [Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) of Using Artificial Intelligence in the Diagnosis of Vulnerable Groups.] In: A. Böhm-Fischer, & L. Beyer (Eds.), TraM – Traumatisierte minderjährige Geflüchtete verstehen und unterstützen. Ergebnisse eines Interdisziplinären Entwicklungsprojekts [TraM - Understanding and Supporting Traumatized Minor Refugees: Findings from an Interdisciplinary Development Project], pp. 67-73.

Böhm-Fischer, A., & Beyer, L. (2022). Supporting the Mental Health of Minor Refugees with a Three-Stage Diagnostic Process. Book of Abstracts. 8th International Congress of Clinical and Health Psychology in Children and Adolescents (AITANA), pp. 126-127. ISSN: 2695-4664.

Böhm-Fischer, A., & Beyer, L. (2022). Entwicklung eines Fragebogens zur Erhebung von Subjektiver Sicherheit und wahrgenommenem Wert bei der Nutzung von Screening KIs in E-Health Apps. [Development of a Questionnaire to Assess Subjective Safety and Perceived Value when Using Screening AI in E-Health Apps.] 25th Conference GeNeMe. October 5-7, 2022. Dresden Abtract Band.

Böhm-Fischer, A. & Beyer, L. (2022). Requirement Analysis for a Smartphone-App to Support Adolescent Refugees Considering Insights from an ELSI-Workshop. PSWB - Psychological Science and Wellbeing.

Keywords: Underage (Unaccompanied) Refugees, Screening Psychological Disorders, Diagnostic Case Understanding