The study involved nine vulnerable young people from low-income backgrounds who completed various social recovery assessment tools, including time use surveys, unusual experiences questionnaires, and self-schematic beliefs assessments. The results showed high completion rates and efficient completion times, indicating that these tools are both feasible and acceptable for use in low-resource settings.
Here are some key takeaways from the study that you can implement in your practice:
- Feasibility: The assessment tools were completed efficiently, with high completion rates. This suggests that these tools can be integrated into your online therapy sessions without overwhelming the participants.
- Acceptability: Participants found the assessments beneficial for self-reflection, goal setting, and psychoeducation. Incorporating these tools can enhance the therapeutic experience by providing valuable insights into the participants' social recovery.
- Psychoeducational Benefits: Questions about unusual experiences, such as hearing voices, were particularly enlightening for participants. This indicates that discussing such topics can help normalize these experiences and encourage open communication.
By integrating these social recovery assessment tools into your online therapy sessions, you can create a more engaging and effective therapeutic environment for vulnerable youth. These tools not only help in assessing the current state of the participants but also provide them with a sense of self-agency and motivation to improve their mental health and social functioning.
Moreover, the study highlights the importance of cultural sensitivity when implementing Western-based assessment tools in non-Western contexts. As a practitioner, it is crucial to adapt these tools to fit the cultural and social norms of your participants, ensuring that they feel comfortable and understood.
In conclusion, the findings from this study offer valuable insights into the feasibility and acceptability of social recovery assessment tools in a Malaysian context. By incorporating these tools into your online therapy services, you can enhance the therapeutic experience for vulnerable youth, helping them achieve better mental health and social outcomes.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Assessing social recovery of vulnerable youth in global mental health settings: a pilot study of clinical research tools in Malaysia
