A new collaborative initiative named SAMSKABT has been launched to investigate how individuals with a background of flight can receive more coherent support regarding mental health, trauma, and the lasting consequences of displacement. The project addresses a critical gap in the current system where many people live with trauma and daily challenges for years before accessing appropriate specialized treatment.
According to DIGNITY – Danish Institute Against Torture, the pathway to specialized care is often excessively long. Furthermore, the support provided by general practitioners, civil society organizations, and trauma clinics does not always align effectively. To rectify this fragmentation, DIGNITY and its project partners are developing new methods to create better continuity between the various services that refugees encounter. This development will occur in close cooperation with both health professionals and individuals who possess personal experience with flight.
Ditte Shapiro, a psychologist with a Ph.D. and project manager at DIGNITY, highlighted the severity of the current situation. She noted that, on average, it takes up to 15 years for people with trauma from war and flight to gain access to treatment. During this prolonged period, many suffer from loneliness and have limited social networks. “With SAMSKABT, we want to shorten the path to relevant support and treatment and create better coherence between civil society, the healthcare system, and trauma clinics,” Shapiro stated. She emphasized that by developing solutions together with people with flight experience and the professionals who meet them, they can achieve a far better understanding of both the barriers and what actually helps these citizens.
The project operates on the premise that mental health extends beyond clinical treatment. It encompasses feeling safe, maintaining stable relationships, managing daily life, and experiencing a sense of belonging. Consequently, the initiative will examine how support and care are currently delivered within the healthcare system, civil society, and individuals’ own networks. The primary objective is to identify where coherence is lacking and how assistance can become easier to find and more relevant for each individual.
As part of its methodology, the project will test new solutions in practice. These practical experiments are expected to culminate in concrete recommendations on how Denmark can strengthen its efforts for people with refugee backgrounds. By focusing on the intersection of professional care and lived experience, SAMSKABT aims to transform the fragmented landscape of support into a unified system that responds effectively to the complex needs of those who have fled conflict and persecution.
This report was produced by the HuMedia newsroom.
