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SH+ and Cash Assistance

NCT07016646 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 40

Last updated 2025-12-18

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

This pilot project aims to evaluate the implementation outcomes and preliminary impacts of a combined low-intensity psychological intervention paired with cash assistance for Dari-speaking adult Afghan asylum-seeking women in Türkiye. The psychological intervention utilized is Self Help Plus (SH+), developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) for individuals in low-resource settings experiencing high stress levels.

This pilot, which builds on a previous needs assessment, will deliver the SH+ intervention through five two-hour sessions, supplemented by a cash transfer of USD 300 or equal amount in Turkish Lira per participant (USD 60 or equal amount in Turkish Lira after each session) to 40 Afghan asylum-seeking women in Türkiye.

The study will test the feasibility, acceptability, and practicality of the combined SH+ and cash transfer intervention and evaluate its effectiveness in addressing the mental health needs of forcibly displaced individuals through a two-arm randomized trial. The first group will receive SH+ and cash transfer simultaneously, and the second group will receive the cash transfer at the same time as the first group then receive the SH+ intervention after a 3-month delay.

Our local partners in Türkiye are the Afghan Refugees Solidarity Association (ARSA) and Boğaziçi University. We have already obtained IRB approval from Boğaziçi University.

Conditions

  • Stress
  • Depression Symptoms

Interventions

COMBINATION_PRODUCT

Self-Help Plus (SH+) and cash transfer

SH+: Self-Help Plus (SH+) is a five-session stress management program developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) for groups of up to 30 participants. It is facilitated by non-specialists who undergo brief training and use pre-recorded audio along with an illustrated guide, Doing What Matters in Times of Stress, to teach stress management techniques. Designed for adults experiencing stress, SH+ is adaptable to diverse living situations and circumstances. Research has demonstrated its effectiveness in alleviating psychological distress and preventing the onset of mental health disorders. Its flexible format makes it an excellent complement to other mental health interventions, whether as an initial step in a stepped care approach or as a community-based program integrated with broader community initiatives. Cash Assistance: A cash transfer of $300 or equal amount in Turkish Lira per participant ($60 or equal amount in Turkish Lira after each session)

OTHER

Cash transfer

A cash transfer of $300 or equal amount in Turkish Lira per participant ($60 or equal amount in Turkish Lira each week for 5 weeks)

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Bogazici University

    collaborator OTHER

  • Washington University School of Medicine

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
FEMALE
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-06-20
Primary Completion
2025-08-20
Completion
2025-09-20

Countries

  • Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07016646 on ClinicalTrials.gov