scholarly journals Identity and action: Help‐seeking requests in calls to a victim support service

Author(s):  
Emma Tennent
Author(s):  
Catharina Zehetmair ◽  
Valentina Zeyher ◽  
Anna Cranz ◽  
Beate Ditzen ◽  
Sabine C. Herpertz ◽  
...  

Providing refugees with psychosocial support is particularly important considering the high level of mental health problems prevalent in this population. A psychosocial walk-in clinic operating within a state reception and registration center in Germany has been supporting mentally burdened refugees since 2016. This study focused on patients’ perspectives on their mental health burden, the psychosocial walk-in clinic, and future help seeking. We conducted interviews with n = 22 refugees attending the walk-in clinic from March to May 2019. Qualitative analysis focused on the following four topics: (1) mental burden from the patients’ perspective, (2) access to the psychosocial walk-in clinic, (3) perception of counseling sessions, and (4) perception of follow-up treatment. The results show that the majority of interviewees were burdened by psychological and somatic complaints, mostly attributed to past experiences and post-migratory stress. Therapeutic counseling and psychiatric medication were found to be particularly helpful. Most of the participants felt motivated to seek further psychosocial support. Key barriers to seeking psychosocial help included shame, fear of stigma, and lack of information. Overall, the psychosocial walk-in clinic is a highly valued support service for newly arrived refugees with mental health issues.


Temida ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 79-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Kovacevic-Lepojevic ◽  
Danica Radakovic

The aim of this paper is to present the work of the victim support service, VDS info and victim support, which is functioning within the Victimology Society of Serbia. The paper contains the analysis of the Service's data that relates to the period from January 1st until December 31st 2007. At the beginning, data is presented on the forms of victimization, with a particular emphasis on violence in the work place and domestic violence. This is followed by presenting the forms and quality of the assistance and support provided to victims by the Service. The authors particularly focus on the analysis of the victims' experiences with the institutions and organizations they contacted before or after contacting the Service.


Temida ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vesna Nikolic-Ristanovic ◽  
Sanja Copic

In the paper, the authors deal with the victim"s position in the criminal procedure, on the one hand side, and the possibilities of implementing restorative justice and its importance for the improvement of victim"s position in Serbia, on the other one. In the first part of the paper, the authors point out victim"s position within the criminal procedure and the noticed gaps, which are particularly reflected in insufficient paying attention to the victim and neglecting of his/her rights and needs. This is opposite to the strengthening of the rights of the accused party that characterizes societies, which are, as our society, on the way of democratization and improvement of human rights. In the second part of the paper, the authors analyze some solutions that introduce elements of restorative justice into our system of criminal response to crime, but from the victim"s point of view. Finally, the authors also point out some further steps that should be undertaken in order to improve the victim"s position, particularly emphasizing the place and role of victim support service, witness service and special facilities in the courts for victims/witnesses, possibilities of using victim-offender mediation before reporting the crime, or staring the prosecution, or as a part of the treatment in the prison etc.


Temida ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 31-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanja Milivojevic

This article contains analysis of history and development of the victim support movement in United States of America, with particular focus on New York City. The analysis includes the causes of establishment, the history of the victim support services as well as today?s situation in the movement for helping victims of crime. Specific part of the article is dedicated to Safe Horizon, victim support service in New York, and programs this organization, known also under old name - Victim Services, Inc., is running today.


Temida ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 29-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmina Nikolic

This paper presents the results of the survey on services for children and organizations specialized for disabled persons and Roma in Belgrade, with special emphasis on programs relevant for crime victims. This survey was conducted during 2006 and 2007 by Victimology Society of Serbia. In introduction, the author gives a short review of research methodology. In the next three parts of the paper, the author presents results of the survey on services for children, disabled persons and Roma in Belgrade, with special emphasize on specific fields of work of each organization. Finally, in conclusion, the author summarizes the data, analyzing them in connection to the current activities of VDS info and victim support service, and gives recommendations for possible solutions of further development of the Service related to the mentioned categories of victims. .


2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 203-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roxanne Khan ◽  
Victoria J Willan ◽  
Michelle Lowe ◽  
Phaedra Robinson ◽  
Matthew Brooks ◽  
...  

Purpose – There is a body of evidence that suggests a range of psychosocial characteristics demarcate certain adults to be at an elevated risk for victimisation. The purpose of this paper is to examine consistency between one police force, and a corresponding Victim Support service based in England, in their assessment of level of risk faced by victims of violent crime. Design/methodology/approach – This study explored matched data on 869 adult victims of violent crime gathered from these two key services in Preston, namely, Lancashire Constabulary and Victim Support, from which a sub-group of comparable “domestic violence” cases (n=211) were selected for further examination. Findings – Data analyses revealed methodological inconsistencies in the assessment of victimisation resulting in discrepancies for recorded levels of risk in domestic violence cases across these two agencies. Practical implications – These findings provide a compelling argument for developing a more uniformed approach to victim assessment and indicate a significant training need. Originality/value – This paper highlights areas of good practice and forwards several recommendations for improved practice that emphasises the integration of empirical research conducted by psychologists to boost the validity and reliability of risk assessment approaches and tools used.


Temida ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 3-8
Author(s):  
Peter Dunn

This article describes the nature and development of Victim Support?s services to victims of hate crime in England and Wales. It provides definitions of hate crime, information about its extent, and considers why services for victims of some forms of hate crime have developed faster than others. It concludes with a summary of points made during a discussion at the 2004 European Forum for Victim Services conference about whether or not services to victims of hate crime should be provided by mainstream victim services or specialist agencies.


Temida ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 19-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirjana Tripkovic

The aim of this paper is to present the data and the experience of the victim support service VDS info and victim support service in regard to the issue of psychological abuse at the work place. Data relates to the period from January 1st until December 31st 2008. The data presented in this paper refer to victims' characteristics as well as the ways of providing them assistance and support.


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