Session: A Critical Systems Approach to Refugee Health and Mental Health Research (Society for Social Work and Research 28th Annual Conference - Recentering & Democratizing Knowledge: The Next 30 Years of Social Work Science)

This symposium offers a thought-provoking examination of the critical systems approach to refugee mental health and health research in order to explore and understand the complex and interconnected factors that shape refugee health experiences. The critical systems approach proposes that dominant ideological forces or worldviews can cause misinterpretation and create a "false consciousness" that reinforces dominant systems of knowledge generation and dissemination, leading to certain views being privileged over others. This symposium emphasizes the importance of participatory methodology and close scrutiny of mainstream research methodology to yield knowledge that captures the voice of the marginalized and recenters knowledge to engage with culturally specific concepts of distress and address the research and health needs of refugee communities.

The symposium showcases four community-based participatory research (CBPR) projects that contribute to an overarching theme of culturally and structurally informed re-examination of health and mental health research, using participatory methods to empower marginalized voices and build community-driven knowledge and research evidence. The first paper presents a conceptual framework of structural vulnerability to understand complex, multimorbid illness experiences among refugee women in protracted refugee situations. Through interpretive ethnographic field research, this paper uncovers how intersectional marginalization exacerbates vulnerability across migration phases. The second paper takes a strengths-based, systems approach to examine self-sufficiency and wellness among asylum seekers in the U.S. By recognizing the web of factors that influence their integration into the local community the paper emphasizes the need for culturally appropriate services to address the challenges faced by asylum seekers. The third paper utilizes participatory photovoice methods to explore the perspectives of Bhutanese refugee elders on healthy living after resettlement in the U.S. By empowering community members and amplifying refugee voices, this study sheds light on ways to promote community-based wellness and empowerment. Finally, the fourth paper employs a mixed-method realist evaluation approach to community-based mental health and psychosocial support interventions in complex implementation settings from 11 states. This paper provides a nuanced understanding of the impact of individual, organizational, and community factors on emotional well-being, using a multilevel model analysis. The paper also highlights the community ripple effects of capacity building and partnership through interactive training and community engagement with refugee leaders, underscoring the importance of refining and localizing evidenced intervention practice. Together, these papers offer crucial insights into the lived experiences of refugees and asylum seekers, emphasizing the significance of community-led initiatives and culturally appropriate services in promoting wellness and resilience in the face of adversity.

Overall, this symposium emphasizes the critical importance of centering the voices and participation of the refugee community in social work research and practice, using a critical systems approach. Through involving refugees in all aspects of research, this approach can help to ensure that community perspectives and experiences are represented and can inform policy and practice. The symposium also highlights the need for community-based collaborative approaches to create more democratic and inclusive knowledge production processes that promote equitable access to knowledge and resources in refugee health and mental health research.