My Heart's Sister
The project "My Sister's Heart" focuses on issues related to equality/gender equality, the global goals for sustainable development, protection of life and health, as well as the right to healthcare as a human right regarding the treatment of trauma-related symptoms. The aim of the project is to identify and compile knowledge about women's specific experiences and needs, and to develop trauma-specific treatment interventions based on this knowledge tailored to the specific needs of the target group.
The project has so far worked in two phases. The first part of the project was to provide an overview of the available research on women's experiences of war, torture, and displacement, the significance of these experiences for health, and the specific treatment methods available for the target group. The second part of the project focused on what former patients at the Red Cross Treatment Centers that have met the patients emphasize as important in the care of the patient group.
As a third phase, the project team, in collaboration with Malmö University, is now designing trauma-specific treatment interventions that will be clinically tested together with the target group and then evaluated for results.
Read the project's publications
Scientific articles
Jolof, L., Rocca, P., & Carlsson, T. (2024). Women's experiences of trauma-informed care for forced migrants: A qualitative interview study. Heliyon 2024, epub ahead of print.
Jolof, L., Rocca, P. & Carlsson, T. (2024). Support interventions to promote health and wellbeing among women with health-related consequences following traumatic experiences linked to armed conflicts and forced migration: a scoping review. Arch Public Health 82, 8 (2024).
Jolof, L., Rocca, P. & Carlsson, T. (2024). Support interventions to promote health and wellbeing among women with health-related consequences following traumatic experiences linked to armed conflicts and forced migration: a scoping review. Arch Public Health 82, 8 (2024).
Jolof, L., Rocca, P., Mazaheri, M. et al. (2022). Experiences of armed conflicts and forced migration among women from countries in the Middle East, Balkans, and Africa: a systematic review of qualitative studies. Confl Health 16, 46 (2022).
Rapporter
Jolof, L. & Rocca, P. (2023). Mitt hjärtas syster II. Kvinnors och vårdpersonals upplevelser av traumafokuserad behandling vid Röda Korsets behandlingscenter för krigsskadade och torterade. Röda Korsets kompetenscenter för tortyr- och krigsskaderehabilitering. Rapport 2023:3.
Jolof, L., Rocca, P. & Carlsson, T. (2022). Mitt hjärtas syster. Upplevelser av krig, tortyr och/eller flykt bland kvinnor och interventioner anpassade för dem - en litteraturstudie. Röda Korsets kompetenscenter för tortyr- och krigsskaderehabilitering. Rapport 2022:1.
Who is involved in the "My Sister's Heart" project?
The project leader is Linda Jolof, licensed psychologist at the Red Cross Treatment Center for War Victims and Torture Survivors (RKC) in Malmö. She works clinically with psychological treatment for PTSD but also conducts torture injury investigations.
Patricia Rocca is a licensed physiotherapist at RKC Malmö. She works with physiotherapeutic treatment individually and in groups as well as with operational development.
Also involved, in different earlier phases of the project: Tommy Carlsson, associate professor at the Red Cross University College, Leah Emegwa Okenwa, associate professor at the Red Cross University College, and Monir Mazaheri, associate professor and former lecturer at the Red Cross University College.
Linda Jolof
How did the idea for the project come about?
"In our work with people traumatized by war, torture, and displacement, the treatment team in Malmö has often returned to the question of why the representation of women in the target group is so low (currently about one-third of patients). With knowledge of women's particular vulnerability in war, armed conflicts, and during flight, several related questions have arisen: What are women's experiences of war, torture, and flight? How do these experiences affect women's health? Does trauma-related care need to be adapted to better suit women? This led to the idea of a larger study," says Linda Jolof, project leader.
What significance do you see the project having for the target group of women with experiences of war, torture, and displacement?
"The work during the autumn of 2021 primarily involved compiling the research available on the experiences of women in war, torture, and displacement, the significance of these experiences for health, and the treatment methods available for the target group. During this work, it has become clear that there is a lack of research on the target group's experiences and also on the trauma-specific treatment methods available," says Linda Jolof.
"In addition to developing trauma care to better suit the target group, we also want to contribute to knowledge in the research field because we have seen that there is a lack of knowledge in this area. We want to do this both nationally and internationally," concludes Linda Jolof.
Swedish Red Cross Treatment Center, Malmö
RKC Malmö is a treatment center that offers trauma treatment for adult individuals who have experienced traumatic events such as war, torture, and displacement. At RKC Malmö, we work from a holistic perspective where psychological, physical, and social aspects are considered. Treatment is provided individually and in groups, and we also have tailored activities for families and children."