SH+ and Cash Assistance

Launched by WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · Jun 2, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring a new way to help Afghan women living as refugees in Türkiye who are experiencing stress and depression. The study is testing a program called Self Help Plus (SH+), developed by the World Health Organization, which consists of five two-hour sessions aimed at improving mental health. Alongside this support, participants will receive a cash assistance of $300, given in smaller amounts after each session, to help with their living expenses. The trial aims to see if this combination of psychological help and financial support is effective and practical for these women.

To be eligible for the study, participants must be Afghan women aged 18 or older, living in Türkiye, and able to read and speak Dari. They should also be experiencing significant psychological distress but not be at risk of suicide. Those who join the trial can expect to take part in the SH+ sessions and receive cash support while contributing to important research that could improve mental health services for refugees. The study is currently recruiting participants, and local organizations are involved to ensure it meets the needs of the community.

Gender

FEMALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • The characteristics for recruited participants in this study will include
• • 1. being an Afghan refugee or asylum seeker residing in Türkiye,
• • 2. being a woman,
• • 3. being aged 18 or older,
• • 4. having the ability to read, speak, and consent in Dari,
• • 5. having high levels of psychological distress (scoring above 15 on the Farsi version of the Kessler-10 Psychological Distress Scale (K-10), and
• • 6. without an imminent risk of suicide (measured by WHO PM+ assessment tool).
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Having an imminent risk of suicide (measured by WHO PM+ assessment tool)