Publication: Mental Health and Conflict
Date
2003-10
ISSN
Published
2003-10
Author(s)
Baingana, Florence
Abstract
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.
Citation
“Baingana, Florence. 2003. Mental Health and Conflict. Social Development Notes; No. 13. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/deb623f5-f035-549c-9e00-4e925701d6fb License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”