Project to Promote the Mental Health of Syrian Refugees in the Netherlands
Promoting Mental Well-Being Among Syrian Youth and Their Parents
October–December 2023 · Nijmegen, the Netherlands
In late 2023, UOSSM Netherlands implemented its first mental health programme in the Netherlands: a three-month initiative supporting Syrian refugee children and young people aged 8–18 and their parents. The programme was delivered in partnership with VluchtelingenWerk Nederland (VWN) in the municipality of Nijmegen and supported through funding from the French organization Pour le Bien des Enfants Syriens.
Why this project mattered
Syrian refugee families may experience significant mental health and psychosocial stressors associated with conflict, forced displacement, resettlement and the challenges of adapting to a new social and healthcare environment. At the same time, barriers such as language, stigma and limited familiarity with the Dutch mental healthcare system can make it difficult to identify concerns early and access appropriate support.
The project was designed to address these access and awareness gaps through culturally responsive activities delivered by Syrian psychiatrists, artists and mental health specialists already practicing in the Netherlands. The involvement of professionals with both relevant expertise and shared cultural and linguistic understanding helped create an environment in which families could engage with mental health topics in a safe and accessible way.
What We Did
Nine full-day workshops were delivered to 90 participants across three complementary strands:
- Mental health workshops for parents: sessions focused on mental health literacy and the recognition of early signs of psychological distress in children and young people, with an emphasis on when and how to seek further support and referral.
- Arts-based psychosocial workshops for children: structured creative sessions provided children with a non-verbal and developmentally appropriate means of expression. Children’s artwork was observed and discussed in collaboration with mental health professionals and pedagogy specialists.
- Mental healthcare system awareness workshops for parents: practical sessions introduced families to the structure of the Dutch mental healthcare system and how to access different forms and levels of support.
All sessions were delivered by Syrian psychiatrists, artists and mental health specialists working in the Netherlands, enabling communication in participants’ own language and supporting culturally responsive engagement.
What the project achieved
Each workshop was followed by a pre- and post-session evaluation to assess changes in participants’ mental health awareness. The programme also gathered recommendations and feedback directly from participating families to identify barriers and opportunities for improving access to mental health support.
The project provided an initial, practical model for community-based mental health and psychosocial support for Syrian families in the Netherlands, combining mental health literacy, early identification, child-focused psychosocial activities and navigation of the Dutch care system. The learning generated through the programme provides a foundation for strengthening future programming and partnerships.
