Authors: Dr. Irechukwu nkechi, Cyuzuzo mugwaneza priscille, GATO Fulgence
Abstract: . This research explored the role of psycho-social support on mental health well-being of asylum seekers living in ETM Gashora, Bugesera District, Rwanda. It has been guided by three specific objectives: To assess the influence of psycho-social support in addressing the mental health challenges faced by asylum seekers; To assess the effect of therapeutic intervention on the mental health well-being of asylum seekers and examine the role of coping mechanisms on the mental health well being of asylum seekers. The sample size was equal to 254 obtained using Yamane’s formula from the target population of 896 asylum seekers living in ETM Gashora. The researcher used simple random sampling technique to select respondents. The study gathered data through the use of questionnaire and interview guide. The researcher used a descriptive and a correlational research designs to establish and manage data for specific research objectives. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used for quantitative analysis, whereas content analysis through themes and sub themes were used for qualitative analysis. Statistical software of SPSS V26.0 was used for these analyses. The findings for the psycho-social support, the overall mean showed a satisfaction rating across all statements is 4.53 out of 5, indicating a high level of satisfaction among residents regarding the psychosocial support servicesin ETM Gashora. The analysis of the second objective reveals that therapeutic interventions at ETM Gashora are highly effective in improving the psychological and mental health status of asylum seekers. With an overall mean satisfaction score of 4.55, respondents expressed strong positive perceptions of the available services, including counseling, group therapy, and specialized therapeutic modalities such as Trauma-Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET), and an integrated MHPSS program.The analysis of the third objective highlights that coping mechanisms play a crucial role in restoring the mental health well-being of asylum seekers at ETM Gashora, with an overall mean satisfaction score of 4.55. Among the various strategies examined, social engagement emerged as the most effective, receiving the highest mean score of 4.75. With 81% of respondents strongly agreeing that social engagement positively impacts their mental health. The researcher recommended that integrated MHPSS program should be expanded to incorporate additional specialized services such as art therapy, psycho-education, and trauma-informed care strategies.Efforts should be made to improve awareness and accessibility of mindfulness practices, given the relatively lower satisfaction and higher variability in responses. Future research should assess the long-term impact of psycho-social support and therapeutic interventions on asylum seekers' mental health over extended periods to understand sustained benefits and potential areas for improvement. Comparative analysis across different asylum Seekers comparative study between different refugee settings (e.g., urban refugee populations vs. ETM settings) could provide insights into how different environmental and contextual factors influence mental health outcomes.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15762097
