Basic versus focused psychosocial interventions for community wellbeing: lessons following the Nargis cyclone interventions in Burma/Myanmar

Psychosocial interventions in Burma/Myanmar are a new phenomenon. Following the Nargis cyclone in Burma/Myanmar, assessments highlighted a clear need to address the psychosocial issues in local communities. Within the existing socio-political constraints, nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) tried to address these issues in different ways. National NGOs tried to help communities by organising community based psychosocial support programmes. This paper describes and analyses two models of psychosocial interventions.

When words are not enough ... psychodynamic psychotherapy in chronic conflict settings

The field of mental health and psychosocial support is now globally recognised as a valid element of humanitarian aid. Medecins Sans Frontie' res has been a leader in this work for many years. On re£ecting on the article by Gaboulaud et al. (2010), we pose the following questions (detailed below): How would psychodynamic psychotherapy have to be adapted to the Palestinian context? What is the role of interpreters? How effective and sustainable was the work?

Do victims of violence need psychodynamic treatment?

We wish to thank the editors of Intervention for the opportunity to comment on the article by Gaboulaud, et al. (2010): ‘Psychological support for Palestinian children and adults: an analysis of data from people referred to Medecins Sans Frontieres programme for behavioural and emotional disorders in the occupied Palestinian territory’, in this issue. Gaboulaud, et al.

Psychological support for Palestinian children and adults: an analysis of data from people referred to the Medecins Sans Frontieres programme for behavioural and emotional disorders in the occupied Palestinian territory

Since the beginning of Al Aqsa Intifada, Palestinian children and adults living in the occupied Palestinian territory have been exposed to stressful events on a daily basis. As a result, some individuals develop severe and chronic reactive psychological syndromes. The nongovernmental organisation Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) provides medical and psychological support to them, using psychodynamic psychotherapy adapted to the Palestinian culture and to the low intensity conflict context.

Spirituality and mental health in humanitarian contexts: an exploration based on World Vision’s Haiti earthquake response

For the international nongovernemental organisation, World Vision International, the Haiti earthquake response revealed a significant gap in materials and interventions that combined spiritual needs with the mental health and psychosocial support needs of affected communities. Despite growing scientific evidence that spirituality can have beneficial effects on mental health and psychosocial wellbeing, there is little guidance and consensus about psycho-spiritual approaches in humanitarian contexts.

Movement, games and sport in psychosocial intervention: a critical discussion of its potential and limitations within cooperation for development

This article critically discusses the use of movement, games and sport in cooperation for development, in post con£ict rehabilitation and in the context of violence, disaster and conflict. Pointing out the ambivalent nature of sport and its limitations, we conclude that, if we really want to achieve an impact through movement, games and sport, we should use them as tools with concrete strategies according to specific goals, local context and based on the interests, needs and leadership of the participants.

Stress and staff support strategies for international aid work

This article will explore a variety of stressors affecting humanitarian aid workers operating in an increasingly challenging environment and review structures for aid worker support. It will summarise the findings of a workplace stress survey conducted in 2009 by a large international aid organisation and provide a comparative analysis with the 2003 stress survey carried out within the same organisation.

The challenges of academic and community partnership under military occupation and the complexity of power relations

In this paper, the reader is taken on a field trip to a village in the north of the West Bank. Events described in the report are used to explore some of the methodological dimensions of a psychosocial programme designed and implemented in joint partnership between a local Palestinian academic institution, the Institute of Community and Public Health of Birzeit University, and a Palestinian nongovernmental organisation the Community Based Rehabilitation programme.

Introducing the IASC Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Guidelines in Emergencies in Nepal: a process description

A rich set of reflections on experiences with the Inter Agency Standing Committee Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Guidelines in Emergency Settings has recently been published in this journal. This paper describes a case study of using the guidelines in Nepal, which focused primarily on detailed implementation of preparatory steps. In effect, it describes a multi-agency process of using the guidelines as a tool to raise awareness,foster coordination and systematically integrate mental health and psychosocial considerations within the humanitarian cluster approach in Nepal.

Child and adolescent mental health in Iraq: current situation and scope for promotion of child and adolescent mental health policy

Violence and instability in Iraq have had highly detrimental effects upon Iraqi children and adolescents. This article summarises the magnitude of Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) problems, and the available services in a country suffering from severe and extended conflicts, war, and international isolation. Possible interventions to promote child and adolescent mental health are discussed, including feasible CAMH policy, mental health plans and strategies. Barriers to successful implementation of CAMH services are identified and possible solutions are suggested.

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