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The upsurge in violent radicalization is associated with a global increase in social inequalities and conflicts related to different markers of identity. To date, literature on the factors associated with legitimizing violence toward others is cross-sectional and does not provide information on the possible change of this phenomenon over time. Such information is necessary to design primary prevention programs that are adapted to and address a rapidly evolving social context. We use a repeated cross-sectional study design to explore the association between sociodemographic characteristics and scores on the Sympathy for Violent Radicalization Scale (SVR) in Quebec (Canada) college students at 2 times points. Results from an online survey completed by students of 6 colleges in 2015 (n = 854) and 2017 (n = 702) indicate that although overall scores on the SVR scale remained stable, there were changes in the association between age, identity, and the outcome at the two time points. Specifically, scores on the SVR were significantly higher among younger students in 2017 than in 2015. In addition, in 2017 we observed a relationship between collective identity and SVR that was not present in 2015. These results align with other recent studies in Canada and the U.S. documenting the emergence of new forms of youth politicized bullying associated with race, ethnicity, and religion. A close monitoring of the phenomenon is warranted to both better understand the impact of populist policies on the increase in hate incidents and crimes and develop programs to address these forms of violence from a public health perspective. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to prepare healthcare providers in high-income countries to deal with mental health and psychosocial issues among resettled Syrian refugees. Design/methodology/approach Collaborative work of the authors on a comprehensive review of social context, cultural frameworks and related issues in the mental health and psychosocial well-being of resettled Syrian refugees. Findings A practical guide that emphasizes the importance of considering the social and cultural dimensions of their predicament and highlighting principles that can help clinicians address the unique needs of Syrian refugee patients. Originality/value The content of this paper is inspired by the collaborative work of the authors on a report commissioned by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR).

Although structural violence and social inequality affect youth physical and mental health throughout the world,1 the problem of violent radicalization (VR) has more recently emerged as an area of concern for professionals working with youth. Radicalization is a dynamic, complex process that is generated and fueled by intercommunity frictions and conflicting political, social, and economic discourses and interests.2 It takes the form of a shift away from a moderate point of view to a rigid one that rejects the status quo and demands drastic societal change, although not necessarily through violence.2 Violent radicalization is when radicalization includes the support of or the plan to use violent measures, including hate crimes and incidents and/or mass killings, often targeting a group characteristic (race, religion, gender orientation and identity, or political views), to achieve one's goals of social change.

Identity issues have been at the forefront in studies on determinants of youth violent radicalization. Identity uncertainty and identity fusion appear to be associated with quests for meaning, which may find some answers in extremist discourses and radical engagements. This process has been considered to be particularly important for second-generation migrants who have to negotiate multiple identities, sometimes in situations of social adversity. This paper aims to understand the relations between collective identity, social adversity (discrimination and exposure to violence), and sympathy for violent radicalization in College students in Quebec. This mixed-method study consisted of a large online survey conducted at eight colleges in Quebec. Multilevel analysis accounted for the clustered nature of data while generalized additive mixed models were used to study nonlinear relations. Results highlight the complex associations between collective identity and youth sympathy for violent radicalization. They confirm that negative public representations of minority communities may lead to more sympathy for violent radicalization. Although results suggest that strong enough identities can act as protective anchorages for youth, they also indicate that when collective identity becomes too central in personal identity this may accentuate othering processes and legitimize violence toward the out-group. These results have implications for prevention programs. They indicate that improving the public image of minority communities through mainstream media or the social media may increase youth public self-esteem and decrease their sympathy for violent radicalization. They also invite the education field to foster the development of strong plural identities.

The relationships between social identities are important when discussing the national and religious identities of Muslims in Western contexts. This study explored the identity narratives of second-generation Muslim young adults to consider the relevance of bicultural identity and acculturation theories commonly employed in research with this group. The sample comprised 20 Muslim young adults of diverse ethnicities and backgrounds from Montreal, Berlin, and Copenhagen who participated in semi-structured interviews that explored how they negotiate their social identities in light of their unique life course trajectories. This article focuses on two major themes underlying second-generation identity development: the importance of personal experience in the development of social identities; and the enmeshment of multiple social identities. We then discuss the results of our findings in light of the complex nature of social identity, group membership, and political categorization.

Although working with trauma survivors can be a source of both deleterious and positive transformations in mental health professionals, little is known about the experience of clinicians in shared traumatic contexts, particularly in the Global South, where most humanitarian crises occur. In collective disasters or armed conflicts, the personal and professional experiences of mental health staff inform each other, situating the clinical space at the intersection between singular and collective spheres. Drawing on an intersubjective and socioecological perspective, this qualitative study explored the ways in which working in a shared traumatic context affected mental health and psychosocial staff in postearthquake Haiti. We interviewed 22 local mental health workers in the capital, Port-au-Prince, 2.5 years after the 2010 disaster. We coded and thematically analyzed interviews using an iterative process, based on grounded theory principles. Thematic analysis uncovered four dynamic poles in clinicians' narratives: balancing duty and desire to help, experiencing fragility and strength, negotiating separation and connection, and sharing hurt and hope. Our findings suggest clinicians considered their work mainly as a source of strength in the face of adversity, whereas experiences of trauma and growth transmissions were mutual and intimately intertwined. We discuss the complexities of clinical work in shared traumatic settings as well as the dynamic interplay between professionals' experiences of suffering and growth. We conclude with recommendations on ways to involve local mental health clinicians in postdisaster contexts while addressing the special needs that they may have to process their own trauma.Spanish Abstracts by Asociación Chilena de Estrés Traumático (ACET) ¿Regalos Hirientes? trauma y transmisión del crecimiento entre clínicos locales en Haití Post-Terremoto TRAUMA Y TRANSMISIÓN DEL CRECIMIENTO EN HAITÍ Aunque trabajar con sobrevivientes a trauma puede ser una fuente de transformaciones deletéreas y positivas en los profesionales de salud mental, se conoce poco acerca de la experiencia de clínicos en contextos traumáticos compartidos, particularmente en el Sur Global, donde ocurre la mayoría de las crisis humanitarias. En desastres colectivos o conflictos armados, las experiencias personales y profesionales del personal de salud mental se influyen mutuamente situando el espacio clínico en la intersección entre las esferas colectiva e individual. Utilizando una perspectiva intersubjetiva y socioecológica, este estudio cualitativo exploró las formas en que el trabajar en un contexto compartido traumático afectó al personal de salud mental y psicosocial (MHPSS, por su sigla en inglés) en Haití post-terremoto. Entrevistamos a 22 trabajadores de salud mental locales en la capital, Puerto Príncipe, 2.5 años después del desastre de 2010. Codificamos y analizamos temáticamente las entrevistas usando un proceso iterativo, basado en teoría fundamentada. Los análisis temáticos descubrieron cuatro polos dinámicos en las narrativas de los clínicos: equilibrando deber y deseo de ayudar, experimentando fragilidad y fuerza, negociando separación y conexión, y compartiendo daño y esperanza. Nuestros hallazgos sugieren que los clínicos consideraban su trabajo principalmente como una fuente de fuerza ante la adversidad, mientras que las experencias de trauma y transmisión de crecimiento fueron mutuos e intimamente entrelazados. Discutimos las complejidades del trabajo clínico en escenarios traumáticos compartidos así como también la interacción dinámica entre las experiencias de sufrimiento y crecimiento de los profesionales. Concluimos con recomendaciones en formas para involucrar a los clínicos de salud mental locales en contextos post-desastre mientras se abordan las necesidades especiales que puedan tener para procesar su propio trauma.Traditional and Simplified Chinese Abstracts by the Asian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (AsianSTSS) 簡體及繁體中文撮要由亞洲創傷心理研究學會翻譯 Hurtful gifts? Trauma and Growth Transmission among Local Clinicians in Post-Earthquake Haiti Traditional Chinese 標題: 海地地震後, 當地臨床治療師的創傷與成長傳遞 撮要: 工作中為受創的倖存者提供服務, 可以對心理治療專業人士帶來正向改變或有害影響。可是, 有關臨床治療師與倖存者於受創環境的共同體驗, 我們卻缺乏理解, 特別是在南營地帶, 大部分人道危機都在那邊發生。在集體災難或武裝衝突中, 心理治療工作者的個人和專業經歷會互相影響, 所以臨床治療空間涉及個人和集體領域。本非量化研究從互為主體性及社會生態角度出發, 旨在探索於海地地震後, 在共同創傷環境工作如何影響心理治療和心理社會治療(MHPSS)工作者。我們於2010年地震發生的2.5年後, 訪問了22名於當地首都太子港的心理治療工作者, 基於扎根理論, 反覆對訪問內容進行編碼及主題分析。主題分析反映心理治療工作者的敘述有4種兩極動態:平衡職責與想幫助的慾望、脆弱和堅強感、在抽離和聯繫之間的掙扎、及分享受傷感受和希望。結果反映臨床治療師認為他們的工作主要為在逆境時提供支持, 而創傷經歷和成長傳遞是雙向並且密不可分的。我們亦討論到臨床工作在共同的創傷環境中的複雜性, 還有專業人士的苦痛與成長經驗之間的動態互動。對於在當地災後如何尋求臨床心理治療師協助, 同時又照顧到他們有可能有處理自己創傷的特殊需要, 我們亦在總結中提出建議。 Simplified Chinese 标题: 海地地震后, 当地临床治疗师的创伤与成长传递 撮要: 工作中为受创的幸存者提供服务, 可以对心理治疗专业人士带来正向改变或有害影响。可是, 有关临床治疗师与幸存者于受创环境的共同体验, 我们却缺乏理解, 特别是在南营地带, 大部分人道危机都在那边发生。在集体灾难或武装冲突中, 心理治疗工作者的个人和专业经历会互相影响, 所以临床治疗空间涉及个人和集体领域。本非量化研究从互为主体性及社会生态角度出发, 旨在探索于海地地震后, 在共同创伤环境工作如何影响心理治疗和心理社会治疗(MHPSS)工作者。我们于2010年地震发生的2.5年后, 访问了22名于当地首都太子港的心理治疗工作者, 基于扎根理论, 反复对访问内容进行编码及主题分析。主题分析反映心理治疗工作者的叙述有4种两极动态:平衡职责与想帮助的欲望、脆弱和坚强感、在抽离和联系之间的挣扎、及分享受伤感受和希望。结果反映临床治疗师认为他们的工作主要为在逆境时提供支持, 而创伤经历和成长传递是双向并且密不可分的。我们亦讨论到临床工作在共同的创伤环境中的复杂性, 还有专业人士的苦痛与成长经验之间的动态互动。对于在当地灾后如何寻求临床心理治疗师协助, 同时又照顾到他们有可能有处理自己创伤的特殊需要, 我们亦在总结中提出建议。.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Violence against women and children is increasingly recognized as an important and urgent public health social and human rights issue cutting across geographical socioeconomic and cultural boundaries. There is a large and growing body of literature that demonstrates the negative impact of such violence on the victims mental and physical health as well as several other consequences on them their families and communities. However this literature for the most part comes from the so-called developed countries. This review at the opposite focused on current literature on prevention of domestic/family violence against children and women in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). RECENT FINDINGS: Establishing effective prevention programmes for domestic violence against women and children in LMICs requires an understanding of the sociopolitical economic and cultural settings and a multilevel collaboration among various stakeholders. SUMMARY: This review confirms the lack of research in the so-called developing countries and provides suggestions for further research and prevention efforts in this setting.

This paper discusses results from a pilot study conducted in the spring of 2014 among young adults living in Montreal. The main objective of this study was to assess the relation between perception of the Charter of Quebec Values, 1 self-identification, perception of intercommunity relations, perceived discrimination, and psychological well-being in young students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs of a francophone university in Montreal. A total of 441 students (30.5% male, 69.5% female) took part in a web survey designed by the research team. The data analyses and results suggest that the debate around the Charter of Quebec values was associated with a shift from a predominantly positive perception of intercommunity relations to a predominantly negative one, particularly among women, immigrants, and those who self-identified as cultural or religious minorities. In addition, more than 30% of participants reported having experienced some form of ethnic or religious discrimination since the Charter was released (personally or as a witness). This was particularly the case among immigrants, as well as those who self-identified as bicultural or from cultural or religious minority groups. This study’s results thus highlight the exacerbation of intercommunity tensions linked to the public debate around identity and intercommunity relations in Quebec.

This study investigates the prevalence and subtypes of conduct disorder (CD) and behavioral problems among youth in two communities characterized by prolonged parent-child separation upon immigration. CD and problem behaviors were assessed in 252 Caribbean-Canadian and Filipino-Canadian adolescents (12-19-year-old) using the DISC-C, the YSR and the CBCL cross-informant construct. Adolescents reported less problem behaviors than their host country peers, despite immigrant background or parent-child separation. The high adolescent-onset CD rate supports the hypothesis that psychosocial stressors play a role in the emergence of the disorder. Specifically, high levels of perceived racism and low collective self-esteem predicted problem behaviors in these youngsters.

Aims.This paper is based on a report commissioned by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which aims to provide information on cultural aspects of mental health and psychosocial wellbeing relevant to care and support for Syrians affected by the crisis. This paper aims to inform mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) staff of the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing issues facing Syrians who are internally displaced and Syrian refugees.Methods.We conducted a systematic literature search designed to capture clinical, social science and general literature examining the mental health of the Syrian population. The main medical, psychological and social sciences databases (e.g. Medline, PubMed, PsycInfo) were searched (until July 2015) in Arabic, English and French language sources. This search was supplemented with web-based searches in Arabic, English and French media, and in assessment reports and evaluations, by nongovernmental organisations, intergovernmental organisations and agencies of the United Nations. This search strategy should not be taken as a comprehensive review of all issues related to MHPSS of Syrians as some unpublished reports and evaluations were not reviewed.Results.Conflict affected Syrians may experience a wide range of mental health problems including (1) exacerbations of pre-existing mental disorders; (2) new problems caused by conflict related violence, displacement and multiple losses; as well as (3) issues related to adaptation to the post-emergency context, for example living conditions in the countries of refuge. Some populations are particularly vulnerable such as men and women survivors of sexual or gender based violence, children who have experienced violence and exploitation and Syrians who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex. Several factors influence access to MHPSS services including language barriers, stigma associated with seeking mental health care and the power dynamics of the helping relationship. Trust and collaboration can be maximised by ensuring a culturally safe environment, respectful of diversity and based on mutual respect, in which the perspectives of clients and their families can be carefully explored.Conclusions.Sociocultural knowledge and cultural competency can improve the design and delivery of interventions to promote mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of Syrians affected by armed conflict and displacement, both within Syria and in countries hosting refugees from Syria.

Few empirical studies have detailed the specificities of working with interpreters in mental healthcare for children. The integration of interpreters in clinical teams in child mental healthcare was explored in two clinics, in Montreal and Paris. Four focus groups were conducted with interpreters and clinicians. Participants described the development of the working alliance between interpreters and clinicians, the delineation of interpreters’ roles, and the effects of translation on the people in the interaction. Integrating interpreters in a clinical team is a slow process in which clinicians and interpreters need to reflect upon a common framework. An effective framework favours trust, mutual understanding, and valorization of the contribution of each to the therapeutic task. The interpreter’s presence and activities seem to have some therapeutic value.

This study analyses the roles of collective self-esteem and religiosity in the relationship between discrimination and psychological distress among a sample of 432 recent immigrants from Haiti and Arab countries living in Montreal, Quebec. Collective self-esteem (CSE), religiosity, discriminatory experiences, and psychological symptoms of depression and anxiety were assessed. Regression analyses revealed direct negative effects of discrimination, CSE, and religiosity on psychological distress for the entire sample. CSE, however, also appeared to moderate the effects of discrimination on psychological distress. Participants with higher CSE reported lower levels of anxiety and depression as a result of discrimination compared to those who expressed lower CSE levels. The results suggest that the relationship between CSE, discrimination, and psychological distress must be reexamined in light of recent sociopolitical changes and the upsurge in ethnic and religious tensions following the war on terror.

This brief report illustrates how the migration context can affect specific item validity of mental health measures. The SCL-25 was administered to 432 recently settled immigrants (220 Haitian and 212 Arabs). We performed descriptive analyses, as well as Infit and Outfit statistics analyses using WINSTEPS Rasch Measurement Software based on Item Response Theory. The participants' comments about the item You feel everything requires a lot of effort in the SCL-25 were also qualitatively analyzed. Results revealed that the item You feel everything requires a lot of effort is an outlier and does not adjust in an expected and valid fashion with its cluster items, as it is over-endorsed by Haitian and Arab healthy participants. Our study thus shows that, in transcultural mental health research, the cultural and migratory contexts may interact and significantly influence the meaning of some symptom items and consequently, the validity of symptom scales.

Ce manuscrit propose une première description d’un travail clinique spécialisé au regard de la radicalisation menant à la violence au Canada. Une équipe clinique multidisciplinaire rattachée à un programme de santé mentale et de soins de première ligne à Montréal offre depuis juillet 2016 un service de consultation spécialisée pour soutenir des partenaires sur l’ensemble du territoire du Québec. Cet article décrit l’approche de l’équipe, l’organisation de l’offre de service et documente à travers des vignettes cliniques les principales catégories de problèmes sociaux et cliniques pour lesquels l’équipe fut sollicitée durant sa première année de fonctionnement. Nos observations préliminaires confirment la pertinence d’une évaluation pluridisciplinaire fondée sur une approche systémique du phénomène de la radicalisation violente, pour appréhender les différents facteurs sociaux, familiaux et individuels qui influencent les manifestations de ce phénomène, et déterminer la nature des interventions psychosociales et/ou psychiatriques pertinentes. La présentation des cas cliniques propose aux intervenants sociaux, communautaires et en santé mentale des pistes d’intervention et une compréhension du phénomène de radicalisation violente tel qu’il se présente dans les réseaux de la santé, de la protection de la jeunesse et de l’éducation au Québec., Objectives This manuscript provides a first description of a specialized clinical work addressing the radicalization leading to violence phenomenon in Canada. Since July 2016, a multidisciplinary clinical team attached to a mental health and primary care program in Montreal proposes specialized consultations to support partners across Quebec.Methods This paper describes the clinical team approach, the consultation service organization and illustrates through clinical vignettes the main categories of social and clinical problems referred to the team during its first year of operation.Results Our preliminary observations confirm the relevance of a multidisciplinary assessment based on a systemic approach to the phenomenon of violent radicalization to provide an understanding of the different social, family and individual factors associated and to formulate a psychosocial and/or psychiatric intervention plan.Conclusion The presentation of clinical cases proposes to the social, community and mental health actors an understanding of the phenomenon of violent radicalization as it manifests in the health, youth protection and educational networks in Quebec and suggest intervention perspectives.