In this article practical methods are describedfor the training of trainers who have the task to train teams implementing psychosocial and mental health interventions after wars, violence and natural disasters.

Keywords: TOT, training of trainers, training, supervision, psychosocial, mental health, interventions, global, violence, natural disasters

The training of trainers (TOT¹) in context

Three days after theTsunami hit the war-torn Jaffna district in northern Sri Lanka, a mental health task force was formed. The approach of this task force, comprising a cooperative initiative between 18 humanitarian agencies, is described in this field report.

Keywords: tsunami, psychological first aid

Before the Tsunami

In situations of protracted armed conflict such as in sub-Saharan Africa, there exists a strong tendency to describe rebel violence as a senseless war of ‘all-against-allThis ‘Hobbesian’ violence (a theory that people have the fundamental right to pursue selfish aims but will relinquish those rights in the interest of the common good) is often illustrated by the sight of drugged and gun-toting youths engaged in the harassment of innocent civilians. Their sole motivation appears to lay in the benefit of organized plunder.

The article by John Williamson and Malia Robinson (Intervention, this issue) represents a way of humanitarian thinking and acting that will hopefully increase its influence to dominate humanitarian response across all sectors. The authors argue for an integrated, cross-sector response to biological, material, mental, emotional, social, cultural and spiritual well-being. We agree.