A coproduced culturally appropriate innovative therapeutic group intervention for bereaved Moroccan youth affected by the Grenfell Tower fire

Abstract

There have been increasing calls to coproduce psychological interventions and services with youth to improve access to mental health services and service user experience. This paper outlines the development of an innovative therapeutic group intervention for young people affected by collective trauma and loss, following the Grenfell Tower fire, who were reluctant to engage with mainstream services. Its central principle was partnership and coproduction with potential users and offering a culturally appropriate service. Its aim was to meet the mental health and other needs of young people, support them through their bereavement and trauma, and to improve access to mental health services by addressing the barriers they reported. The group intervention used community psychology principles, narrative therapy concepts, creative arts and collective memorialization. Semi-structured focus groups were conducted with 14 Moroccan participants aged 11 to 14, 13 of which identify as Muslim. A thematic analysis was conducted. The findings indicated the benefits of collective memorialization, preference for therapeutic groups, and that the group helped improve their emotional expression, recognition of shared disaster-related experiences, it strengthened social support networks and subjugated narratives, and reduced social isolation and stigma. The evaluation findings indicated that the group intervention, coproduction and collaboration between statutory services, potential/service users and community organizations improved community engagement, access to mental health services and service provision for children and young people from Muslim and Moroccan backgrounds.