Voices from Syria 2018 : Assessment Findings of the Humanitarian Needs Overview

As the war in Syria approaches its eighth year the humanitarian situation has passed a tipping point in terms of generational change. Even if the fighting were to stop tomorrow, the after-effects will continue for many years. This is especially true for women and girls due to the entrenched complexity of the issues they continue to face every day. The scars now run too deep for easy and immediate solutions.

 

The intrinsic interlinkage between peacebuilding and mental health and psychosocial support : The International Association for Human Values model of integrated psychosocial peace building

Abstract

 

In view of the evolving discussion on bridging the mental health and psychosocial support and peacebuilding fields, this article proposes that they don’t need to be bridged, but are already intrinsically interlinked. The approach and methodology of the International Association for Human Values is presented as a conceptual and practical model of integrated peacebuilding, both addressing a gap in peacebuilding as well as working complementary to traditional mental health and psychosocial support methods.

Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience programme : experiential education towards resilience and trauma informed people and practice

Abstract

 

War, genocide, gender based violence, structural oppression and other forms of chronic violence and social upheaval can reveal and cultivate tremendous strength and resilience. They can also gravely harm people in body, mind and spirit, both individually and collectively. These harms can lead people to act in on self and act out against others, entrapping us in cycles of violence. Many strategies can assist in breaking free from cycles of violence and building resilience.

Exploring the link between trauma and truth in post conflict societies : comparing post conflict Northern Ireland and post apartheid South Africa

Abstract

 

While much has been written in academia about trauma and truth as singular subjects in post conflict societies, there is a lack of research that investigates the relationship between these foci. This project investigated this underexplored link and uncovered themes that emerged through a rigorous literature review of existing research coupled with semi-structured qualitative interviews conducted with professionals working in the fields of trauma and truth across Northern Ireland and South Africa.

Peacebuilding and psychosocial intervention : the critical need to address everyday post conflict experiences in northern Uganda

Abstract

 

The complex set of phenomena posed by societies affected by violence has prompted calls for integration and coordination between peacebuilding and psychosocial work. The ways in which psychosocial support interventions are implemented can contribute to, or impede, the peacebuilding process. In northern Uganda, a rise in cases of suicide, domestic violence and substance abuse has pointed to the pressing need to better understand the experiences and stressors of individuals and communities navigating post conflict life.

Sex-dependent differences in oxytocin receptor gene methylation between posttraumatic stress disorder patients and trauma-exposed healthy controls

Abstract

Rationale: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating psychiatric condition that can develop after experiencing a traumatic event. PTSD risk may depend on an interaction between genetic and environmental vulnerability factors. Epigenetic processes such as DNA-methylation are responsive to environmental factors (e.g. stress) and can alter gene-expression, and have been found to mediate between trauma exposure and PTSD development [1].

Traumatized refugees : identifying needs and facing challenges for mental health care

In the past few years the number of refugees worldwide has increased dramatically. Many of them were traumatized in their homelands due to violent conflict or persecution, as well as during their flight, and are confronted with ongoing stressors in the exile countries. In order to contribute to enhancing the clinical knowledge, this special issue of the European Journal of Psychotraumatology focuses on traumatized refugees.

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