Mental Health and Conflicts: A Discussion Paper

1. Mental Health and Conflicts: A Discussion Paper • 1-3% of all populations have psychiatric • disorders. In conflict, the number may • increase • For 30-40%, the below symptoms • will persist, becoming more severe, • and will interfere with day-to-day • living • A large part of the population • may suffer nightmares, anxiety, • easy irritability, etc. in the days • and weeks following trauma The Relationship between Mental and Psycho-Social Disorders in Post Conflict Settings • Conflict, Poverty and Social Capital • Poverty leads to conflict: Nations that are poor are • likely to slip into conflict situations • Conflict increases poverty: It undermines the • investment climate, governance structure, and health • and education systems • Poverty and conflict undermine social capital: • Trust between social groups disintegrates and youth • who are unable to go to school, desperately poor, • and witnesses to conflict-related atrocities are easy • targets for recruitment into rebel gangs • Social capital is necessary for rebuilding post- • conflict societies • Conflict, Mental Health and Social Capital • Conflict increases mental disorder prevalence • Mental disorders reduce social capital by hindering • active community participation • Weak social capital can increase mental disorders by • destroying support systems and increasing stress, while • strong social capital can have the opposite effect • Mental disorders are disabling, reducing productivity • and increasing poverty Steps Forward 1. Recognize the importance of the linkages between poverty, conflicts, social capital, mental and psychosocial well-being and dysfunction 2. Demonstrate that there are feasible interventions that can reverse this dysfunction, and that they will lead to increased productivity 1. Must include a variety of sectors such as education, health, social welfare, and legal and judiciary 2. Must include primary, secondary and tertiary levels 3. Should involve multiple stakeholders in planning and implementing the interventions (i.e. governments, NGOs, private providers and UN agencies) 4. Program components should include policy/standards, referral, coordination, support supervision, and monitoring and evaluation 5. Resources must be allocated to meet the mental health needs of the population A Conceptual Framework for Mental Health Programs in Conflict/ Post-Conflict Settings Mental and psychosocial disease burden Ideal allocation of resources to match burden Present allocation of resources