TraM

Understand and Support Traumas for Underage Refugees: Development of a Low-Threshold Screening and Support Portal as the Basis of a Comprehensive Psychosocial Diagnostic Model

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

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

Project staff: Annina Fischer, Lisa Große

Partners:

Abstract:
Many people from threatened regions seek refuge in Germany. Especially underage (unaccompanied) refugees (MGs) are a vulnerable group. Many of them have experienced critical life events and traumatic experiences. Therefore, MGs need support services and resources to enable a successful integration. As a form of support for MGs, 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 under-age 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)

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