Finding Mental Health after Conflict

This manual is written to guide people who work with those from conflict and post-conflict situations of repression and displacement through the thinking, the planning, and the start of working through mental stress and other problems. The sources are extracts from "Interviewing & Counselling at the Grassroots" and "Human Rights In MENA (Middle East and North Africa)", both published by Networklearning.org, as well as contributions from M.L. Moynihan, MD. The book is divided into sections on: What an NGO [non-governmental organisation] Can Do; the "Basic Package" (a description of actions that can help those in need); Groups, Problems & Strategies; Psychiatric Problems; and Online Resources.


Contents include the following:

Section One: What an NGO Can Do

• Identifying the problems: where they are and how big
• Identifying resources: counselling, talking therapy and groups 
• Identifying resources: workspace 
• Identifying staff & the training they need 
• The “Basic Package” 
• Identifying psychologists & psychiatrists 
• Identifying how emails & mobile phones can be used  
• Organising the work in the NGO  
• Ensuring confidentiality & safety for staff & clients 
• Make every worker familiar with the Rescue Triangle

Section Two: Strategies - the “Basic Package”

• Regular structure in people’s lives
• Counselling/talking therapy & groups 
• Eating properly 
• Sleeping better 
• Relaxation & Meditation 
• Stopping the overuse of alcohol, cigarettes, khat, prescription meds or street drugs

Section Three: Other Groups, Problems & Strategies

• People who need Reproductive Health services
• People who need more support from – and integration into – the community 
• People who take responsibility for their actions 
• Children’s grief and anger 
• The elderly

Section Four: Psychiatric Problems - moderate to serious

• People with depression
• People who misuse alcohol, cigarettes, prescription and street drugs 
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) 
• Bipolar disorder 
• Schizophrenia 
• Post-Partum Depression/psychosis

Final Word

Further Online Resources