What should be done when young people become radicalized or show an interest in extremist movements? The Center for Countering Extremism in Baden-Württemberg (fexbw) offers training not only for social workers but also for volunteers—for example, those who support refugees.
The focus of the program is on workshops, explains staff member Simon Kretschmer in an interview with tuenews INTERNATIONAL. There, participants learn how to recognize signs of radicalization and how to respond effectively. Recognizing extremism begins with understanding its symbols and behaviors, according to the center’s website. While obvious signs such as the swastika or the flag of the so-called Islamic State are easy to identify, recognizing linguistic codes and the names of extremist artists requires specialized knowledge.
The center aims to prevent extremism and highlight the best ways to deal with young people who are becoming radicalized. Kretschmer is convinced that this is how radicalization can be prevented.
Training Programs Not Just for Professionals
For this reason, the program is not aimed solely at professionals in integration management. The center also targets school social workers, teachers, custodians, and security personnel at refugee shelters, as well as volunteers working in the asylum sector. In addition, events are held regularly. An overview can be found on the fexbw.de website.
Kretschmer adds that anyone who suspects a person has become radicalized can also contact the center in Stuttgart. However, the Tübingen-based expert notes that in-person counseling is not available. Information can be obtained by calling 0800 2016 112 or by sending an email to: info@fexbw.de or info@clix.de.
Studies on the Mental Health of Refugees
There is no evidence to suggest that refugees have a higher potential for radicalization than the general population. Kretschmer cites a 2020 American study by Rebecca Blackmore and other researchers, which also analyzed data from Germany. While significantly more cases of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression were identified—which can be attributed to the experience of fleeing—there were no significant differences in anxiety disorders or psychoses (https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1003337).
The University Hospital of Ulm has also been studying the mental health of refugees for several years (https://www.uni-ulm.de/med/gte/forschung/medizin-und-migration/die-psychische-situation/). The Center for Distancing from Extremism collaborates with the university. In a study, it demonstrated which therapeutic approaches are successful with young people (https://www.uni-ulm.de/studium/studieren-an-der-uni-ulm/nachrichten/article/studie-belegt-wirksamkeit-eines-neuen-versorgungsansatzes/).
More Services for Refugees
The Center for Distancing from Extremism, with its approximately 20 staff members, plans to expand its services for refugees in the coming years. The center has had positive experiences with anti-discrimination workshops in schools. It is important, however, to convey the content in simple language—and that is not as easy as it sounds, Kretschmer notes. Perhaps the program could be expanded to refugee shelters, he speculates, looking toward the future.
Further information:
https://fexbw.de/
tun26110403