Interventions for children affected by war: an ecological perspective on psychosocial support and mental health care

Background
Children and adolescents exposed to armed conflict are at high risk of developing mental health problems. To date, a range of psychosocial approaches and clinical/psychiatric interventions has been used to address mental health needs in these groups.
Aims
To provide an overview of peer-reviewed psychosocial and mental health interventions designed to address mental health needs of conflict-affected children, and to highlight areas in which policy and research need strengthening.
Methods

Broadening the scope of epidemiology in conflict-affected settings: opportunities for mental health prevention and promotion.

This editorial proposes a shift in emphasis in the field of mental health epidemiology in conflict-affected settings. After a brief summary of the nature of contemporary armed conflicts, we consider the current and potential roles that epidemiology can play with regard to: (1) establishing the burden of mental disorders; (2) identifying risk and protective factors; and (3) intervention research.

Mental health in humanitarian settings: shifting focus to care systems.

Mental health in low- and middle income countries has received increasing attention. This attention has shifted focus, roughly moving from demonstrating the burden of mental health problems, to establishing an evidence base for interventions, to thinking about care delivery frameworks. This paper reviews these trends specifically for humanitarian settings and discusses lessons learned.

Psychological first aid: Facilitator’s manual for orienting field workers

 

WHO Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

Psychological first aid: Facilitator’s manual for orienting field workers.

l.Crisis intervention - methods. 2.Disasters. 3.Emergency medical services - personnel. 4.Adaptation, Psychological. 5.First aid - psychology. 6.Stress disorders, Traumatic - psychology. 7.Health personnel - education. I.World Health Organization. Il.War Trauma Foundation. III.World Vision International.

ISBN 978 92 4 154861 8    (NLM classification: WM 401)

© World Health Organization 2013

Factors affecting mental health of local staff working in the Vanni region, Sri Lanka

In the aftermath of the civil war that extended from 1983–2009, humanitarian organizations provided aid to the conflict-affected population of the Vanni region in northern Sri Lanka. In August, 2010, a needs assessment was conducted to determine the mental-health status of Sri Lankan national humanitarian aid staff working in conditions of stress and hardship, and consider contextual and organizational characteristics influencing such status.

Protect: Process of Recognition and Orientation of Torture Victims in European Countries to Facilitate Care and Treatment

According to Council Directive 2003/9/EC of January 27th 2003 laying down minimum standards for the reception of asylum seekers, the Member States have to take into account the specific situation of vulnerable persons among other applicants who have been subjected to torture, rape or other serious forms of psychological, physical or sexual violence. This provision shall apply only to applicants recognized as having special needs, after an individual assessment of their situation.

Mental health in war-affected populations

Het proefschrift gaat over het vóórkomen van mentale problemen onder populaties in niet-westerse oorlogsgetroffen gebieden, en over methoden om deze problemen te verzachten via interventies die zijn gericht op maatschappelijke reïntegratie. In dit boek wordt het werkmodel en de uitvoering van een psychosociaal hulpprogramma beschreven, het 'community-based sociotherapy'-programma.

 

 

Signatuur: s8.7 SCH en 8.7 SCH-I

Bonding after trauma: on the role of social support and the oxytocin system in traumatic stress

This paper outlines the state of affairs in psychobiological research on psychotrauma and PTSD with a focus on the role of the oxytocin system in traumatic stress. With a high prevalence of trauma and PTSD in the Netherlands, new preventive and therapeutic interventions are needed.

Psychological distress, depression, anxiety, and burnout among international humanitarian aid workers: a longitudinal study

Background
International humanitarian aid workers providing care in emergencies are subjected to numerous chronic and traumatic stressors.

Objectives
To examine consequences of such experiences on aid workers' mental health and how the impact is influenced by moderating variables.

Pre-deployment mental health and trauma exposure of expatriate humanitarian aid workers: risk and resilience factors

Abstract
Expatriate aid workers (n = 214) representing 19 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) completed a predeployment
survey, including measures of mental health (depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]); risk factors
(childhood trauma, family risk, and adult trauma exposure); and resilience factors (coping, social support, and healthy lifestyle)
to assess their baseline mental health during preparation for deployment. Multiple regression analysis indicated that childhood

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