Mental Health and Conflict

Addressing mental health is gradually being recognized as an important development issue, especially in the case of conflict-affected countries. Although mental health issues have received increased attention in post-conflict settings, there has been a tendency to implicitly assume that the impact of trauma caused by mass violence (i) may be transitory and non-disabling, and (ii) that interventions in the emergency phase are sufficient. However, a small but growing body of research on factors affecting mental health and effective treatment in postconflict settings casts doubts on both assumptions. Current research suggests that major depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are prevalent and chronic among refugee and displaced populations. Research also shows that the impact of trauma is long term. Child survivors of Nazi holocaust and Japanese concentration camps were found to experience PTSD symptoms as late as 40-50 years following their traumatic experience. Some researchers postulate that these 'invisible wounds' can leave a society vulnerable to a recurrence of violence. Studies on Nazi Holocaust and Cambodian Pol Pot survivors show that their children and their children's children are also affected by the psychosocial impact of conflict.

Bibliographic Details

Main Author:	Baingana, Florence
Language:	English
Published:	World Bank, Washington, DC 2003-10
Subjects:	ANXIETY, CARE PROVIDERS, CARE SERVICES, CHILD DEVELOPMENT, CHILD EDUCATION, CLINICS, COGNITION, COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT, COST EFFECTIVENESS, COUNSELING, DEPRESSION, DISABILITIES, DISEASES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, EARLY CHILD DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDIES, FAMILIES, FRACTURES, GROUP THERAPY, HEALTH, HEALTH CARE, HEALTH CLINICS, HEALTH CONSEQUENCES, HEALTH INTERVENTIONS, HEALTH NUTRITION, HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, HEALTH PROGRAMS, HEALTH REFORM, HEALTH SECTOR, HEALTH SERVICES, HEALTH STATUS, HOSPITAL CARE, HOSPITALS, HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, LITERACY, MALNUTRITION, MENTAL DISORDERS, MENTAL HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, MENTAL ILLNESS, MOTHERS, NATIONAL HEALTH, NEEDS ASSESSMENT, NUTRITIONAL, ORPHANS, PATIENTS, PHYSICIANS, PRIMARY CARE, PRIMARY HEALTH CARE, PRIVATE PROVIDERS, PRIVATE SECTOR, PSYCHOLOGISTS, PSYCHOSIS, PSYCHOSOCIAL PROBLEMS, READING, REFUGEES, REHABILITATION, REHABILITATION CENTERS, SAFETY, SCHOOL DROPOUTS, SCHOOLS, SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL SERVICES, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, TEACHERS, TRADITIONAL HEALERS, VICTIMS, VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE, VIOLENCE, WAR VICTIMS, WORKERS, WOUNDS, YOUTH CONFLICT PREVENTION STRATEGIES, POST CONFLICT CRISES, CONFLICT MANAGEMENT, VIOLENT CONFLICTS, DISPLACED PERSONS, PSYCHOSOCIAL IMPACTS, SOCIAL CAPITAL, POVERTY REDUCTION, DEVELOPMENT GOALS,
Online Access:	http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2003/10/2981046/mental-health-conflict https://hdl.handle.net/10986/11289
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