Providing Holistic Support to Torture and Refugee Trauma Survivors during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Best Practice Examples from Australia and Europe

Annette Carnemalm
Psychologist, Swedish Red Cross

Rudy Gonzalez
General Manager Practice Development and Learning, VFST

Lina Ishu
Youth Team Leader, STARTTS

Jorge Aroche
CEO, Clinical Psychologist, Facilitator
STARTTS

To be issued with a Certificate of Completion you need to view the recordings by clicking on the modules listed under ‘Course Content’ below. You will need to watch the recordings in full to be issued with a certificate. If you prefer to watch individual recordings only, then click on the links for the individual recordings in the ‘Course Description’ below.

This Clinical Master Class, held on 22 July 2020, explored how three torture and trauma rehabilitation services from Australia and Europe quickly adapted from face-to-face to remote services, to be able to respond to the unique challenges faced by survivors of torture and refugee trauma during the COVID-19 pandemic.

These impacts were specifically colossal for vulnerable groups of our society such as refugees. In addition to the day-to-day impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, refuges were faced with additional challenges such as having resettlement put on hold, to delays in the progress of their applications, as well as triggers of their previous trauma and multiple losses. These challenges intensified existing symptoms of PTSD, anxiety and depression, grief reactions, and created further panic, anxiety and fear regarding Covid-19 pandemic. It was a challenge for organisations who provide support and rehabilitation services for refugees, as most were forced to quickly adjust from face-to-face services to providing interventions using remote technology. The presentations by three highly competent national and international speakers were followed by a Q&A panel discussion with active participation from the audience.

Recording 1: Annette Carnemalm, Psychologist, Swedish Red Cross. Recording link: https://youtu.be/GKMFGD0GzV8

Recording 2: Rudy Gonzalez, General Manager Practice Development and Learning, VFST. Recording link: https://youtu.be/4OYu1gWMBNE

Recording 3: Lina Ishu, Youth Team Leader, STARTTS. Recording link: https://youtu.be/gaYQQorqu8o

Recording 4: The Q&A panel discussion facilitated by STARTTS’ CEO and Clinical Psychologist, Jorge Aroche. Recording Link: https://youtu.be/T7fUBO1lqrs

This webinar was recorded on 22 July 2020. © STARTTS

Duration: 82 minutes.