Good practices with victims of torture

Introduction and support from the European Commission According to the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the term «torture» is any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third

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Taskshifting : translating theory into practice to build a community based mental health care system in rural Haiti

This paper describes laying the foundation for a community based, mental health care system through the articulation of a ‘depression care pathway’, in which patients are identified and treated within the community, but referred to clinics and more specialised care when required. We emphasise taskshifting clinical, service delivery, systems building, and quality improvement responsibilities to psychologists, the central players in the Zanmi L. mental health model.

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Mental health and psychosocial support in humanitarian settings: reflections on a review of UNHCR's approach and activities

Mental health and psychosocial support activities are increasingly becoming a core component of humanitarian response and support for displaced persons in emergencies. However, recognition of the mental health and psychosocial impacts of conflict, disaster and displacement is relatively new within the sphere of humanitarian assistance. This paper, therefore, describes and expands on findings from a review of the UN Refugee Agency's engagement with mental health and psychosocial support for refugees.

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The effects of war: local views and priorities concerning psychosocial and mental health problems as a result of collective violence in Burundi

This paper explores how people in Burundi view the impact of the past civil war on their lives and wellbeing. The methodology consisted of focus group discussions (n = 104), including participatory ranking techniques, and key informant interviews with traditional healers (n = 8). Respondents saw economic decline (poverty, loss of livelihoods), worsened health and nutritional status as major issues, but also mentioned social aspects (erosion of mechanisms for social support and conflict resolution), and psychological aspects (sadness, grief).

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Personal perspectives of protracted displacement: an ethnographic insight into the isolation and coping mechanisms of Syrian women and girls living as urban refugees in northern Jordan

The ongoing conflict in Syria has provoked mass exodus on an unprecedented scale, with over four million Syrian refugees now registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Most of these refugees fled across the borders to Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq and Turkey, where the vast majority of Syrian refugees now live outside of the camps, their priorities and coping mechanisms shifting due to their protracted displacement.

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Training workshops for psychosocial workers and mental health staff: what organisers of capacity building projects need to know before hiring a trainer

When invited to facilitate a training course for psychosocial workers and/or mental health staff, I am sometimes confronted with unrealistic expectations: the person commissioning a training expects a detailed programme that describes exactly what subject matter will be covered, and precisely when. In other cases, I am requested to design a programme that connects to an earlier training, facilitated by another expert in the mental health and psychosocial support field.

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A widow, a victim, a mother : rethinking resilience and wellbeing within the complexities of women's lives in Kashmir

Using a case study, this paper describes initial results from qualitative research with women widowed as a result of conflict in Kashmir. Recognising resilience as a process that contributes to a sense of wellbeing, this paper highlights how this process also often involves experiencing and exercising overlapping identities of being a ‘victim’, ‘widow, and a ‘mother’ for women within conflict contexts.

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Task sharing in rural Haiti: qualitative assessment of a brief, structured training with and without apprenticeship supervision for community health workers

Despite growing support for supervision after task sharing trainings in humanitarian settings, there is limited research on the experience of trainees in apprenticeship and other supervision approaches. Studying apprenticeships from trainees’ perspectives is crucial to refine supervision and enhance motivation for service implementation.

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Sharing Circles: learning from a community based psychosocial intervention model implemented with vulnerable populations in Myanmar

The last several decades of ongoing conflict and oppression in Myanmar (as it is now officially known) has had an extensive psychological and emotional impact on its people. Unfortunately, there has been a distinct lack of psychosocial programming provided through culturally appropriate methods in Myanmar. This study investigated an eight session psychotherapy group called Sharing Circles. Trained local staff implemented a group intervention in Yangon, Myanmar with 57 Burmese participants from Yangon identified as belonging to one of three vulnerable groups.

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Supporting the relationship between mother and child within the context of domestic violence: a pilot parenting programme in Surkhet, Midwestern Nepal

This paper describes the experience of a group based parenting programme for mothers with past, or ongoing, domestic violence experience in Surkhet district, Midwestern Nepal. Twenty women took part in the programme, with meetings every three weeks over a period of nine months.

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