Linking economics and emotions: towards a more integrated understanding of empowerment in conflict areas

The disintegration and disempowerment caused by war and organized violence in conflict areas are often reinforced by aid projects. Instead of addressing the social and psychological processes of threat andfear, destruction and trauma, loss and grief through interventions, they separate them, delegate them to specialists and ignore them in the other sectors of programming humanitarian aid. On the other hand, in psychosocial projects, the material needs of people are not always addressed adequately.

Improving the quality of psychosocial support for children and adolescents in the Darfur refugee camps

In order to offer psychosocial support forchildren and adolescents in the Darfur refugee camps, UNICEF established a large number of so-called Child Friendly Spaces. This article describes a training for model animators, who later gave an on-the-job training to the animators in the facilities. This had a substantial effect on the quality of the support the animators offered to the children.

Keywords: Child Friendly Spaces, Darfur, corporal punishment, internally displaced persons (IDP) camp

 

Child Friendly Spaces

Participatory tools for evaluating psychosocial work with children in areas of armed conflict: a pilot in eastern Sri Lanka

 

Thisarticleisbasedontheexperiencesofarecentpilot project to develop a participatory approach to the monitoring and evaluating of psychosocial interventions with children affected by armed conflict. It presents the conceptual framework and the principles that underpinned the testing of tools within programmes in eastern Sri Lanka. Some of the main challenges encountered while utilizing these tools are discussed, along with the value of the data generated and the implications of using participatory methodologies for planning, monitoring and evaluation.

Planning needs and services after collective trauma: should we look for the symptoms of PTSD?

After the Madrid March 11, 2004 terrorist attacks, the interplay of politicians, journalists and academicians created an atmosphere of collective trauma. The authors analysed data related to these attacks in a sample of the population of Madrid (N = 503) 18-25 days after the attacks. Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was systematically assessed on the basis of a selfadministered interview. The data, however, shows that there is no scientific evidence at all for collective traumatization, or an epidemic of PTSD.

Appraisal of psychosocial interventions in Liberia

This article presents the methodology and results ofa study on the effectiveness of two psychosocial interventions targeting female victims of war-related and sexual violence in Liberia. One intervention provided counselling, the other offered support groups and skill training Qualitative research suggests that the participants of both interventions were positive with regard to the help provided. Quantitative analyses revealed that counselling was effective in reducing trauma symptoms as compared to the support and skill training and to a waiting list control group.

Psychosocial interventions for children in war-affected areas: the state of the art

In this article the literature on psychosocial assistance to children in war-affected areas is reviewed. Two main types of interventions are identified: the curative approach and the developmental approach. The effectiveness of each of these approaches is discussed.

Keywords: protective factors, psychosocial wellbeing, social context, curative approach, developmental approach

Recovered Memories

Abstract: The issues surrounding repressed, recovered, or false memories have sparked one of the greatest controversies in the mental health profession in the twentieth century. We review evidence concerning the existence of the repression and recovery of autobiographical memories of traumatic events and research on the development of false autobiographical memories, how specific therapeutic procedures can lead to false memories, and individual vulnerability to resisting false memories.

Emotional or educational debriefing after psychological trauma: Randomised controlled trial

Background Recent studies show that individual single-session psychological debriefing does not prevent and can even aggravate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Aims We studied the effect of emotional ventilation debriefing and educational debriefing v. no debriefing on symptoms of PTSD, anxiety and depression.

The Nonviolent Peaceforce in Sri Lanka: methods and impact (September 2003-January 2006)

Since 2003 the Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) in Sri Lanka has aimed to increase the safety of civilians in Sri Lanka so that they can contribute to a lasting peace that includes a sense ofjustice.The NP has effectively assisted people to move to safer places, and supported people in interactions with authorities. The NP has also contributed to defusing ongoing violence and preventing further violence within specific situations.

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