The 2021 geopolitical upheaval in Afghanistan and a precipitated exodus has significantly increased the number of Afghan refugees seeking safety and protection. This abrupt mass displacement presents a pressing need for understanding and addressing the mental distress and psychosocial challenges of a very vulnerable population who has experienced extensive trauma, loss, and post-resettlement disorientation and duress.

Following our first in-person workshop in November 2022, the Lotus Project is honored to commemorate World Refugee Day and host a webinar titled "From Crisis to Care: Trauma-Informed Treatment Strategies for Supporting Afghan Refugees". This interactive event aims to delve deep into the unique challenges faced by Afghan refugees and the necessity for trauma-informed care in addressing their mental health needs.

Our panel members are leading experts in the fields of refugee health, psychiatry, and psychology. Their insights will offer a comprehensive perspective on trauma-informed care tailored to the unique needs of Afghan refugees. Attendees will also learn about practical, culturally competent treatment strategies that can be implemented to support these individuals' mental health, overall well-being, secondary and vicarious trauma.

Learning Objectives

As a result of attending this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Become familiar with the principles of trauma-informed treatment and how adversities, displacement, and resettlement contribute to traumatic stress in Afghan and other refugee populations.

2. Understand how to provide culturally competent mental health assessments and treatments to Afghan refugees while respecting cultural beliefs, norms, and practices, and how to address language barriers and cultural stigma associated with severe mental distress without overlooking, overpathologizing, or overmedicalizing suffering.

3. Recognize the potential for secondary traumatic stress among providers working with traumatized populations and learn strategies for self-care and burnout prevention.
   

*Continuing Education: RAMS is approved by the California Psychological Association (CPA) to provide continuing professional education for psychologists. The California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) now recognizes CE credit offered by any CPA-approved provider for license renewal for its licensees. For this webinar, RAMS is offering 1.5 hours of continuing education for psychologists, LMFTs, LCSWs, and LPCCs. RAMS maintains responsibility for this program and its contents.