The intrinsic interlinkage between peacebuilding and mental health and psychosocial support : The International Association for Human Values model of integrated psychosocial peace building

Abstract

In view of the evolving discussion on bridging the mental health and psychosocial support and peacebuilding fields, this article proposes that they don’t need to be bridged, but are already intrinsically interlinked. The approach and methodology of the International Association for Human Values is presented as a conceptual and practical model of integrated peacebuilding, both addressing a gap in peacebuilding as well as working complementary to traditional mental health and psychosocial support methods.

This article will present an overview of several congruencies between the mental health and psychosocial support and peacebuilding fields, illustrated with practical examples from International Association for Human Values programmes from around the world. The author argues that sustainability of peacebuilding cannot happen without psychosocial peacebuilding: an approach that integrates the full range of psychosocial factors into peacebuilding including, but not limited to, the integration of mental health and psychosocial support.

She concludes that as an integrated field, we can move forward to the full and joint aspiration of both mental health and psychosocial support and peacebuilding, towards optimal health and positive peace.