40. Mental Health and Conflicts: Conceptual Framework and Approaches (pdf 2005)

By Florence Baingana, Ian Bannon and Rachel Thomas

Paper prepared for World Bank, Health, Nutrition and Population, Human Development Network, with the support of the National Institute of Mental Health of the US Government.

Abstract

The paper provides an overview of the Bank's role in conflict and development, and explores the links between poverty, social capital and mental and psychosocial disorders in conflict settings. The premise of the paper is that increased understanding and targeted interventions to deal with mental health can play an important role in effective post-conflict reconciliation and reconstruction.

It also argues that there are effective approaches that can be adapted to different conflict settings. The paper presents a conceptual framework based on experiences in and outside the Bank that can help guide interventions and approaches to address mental health and psychosocial disorders in conflict-affected countries.

The paper briefly examines mental health approaches adopted by the Bank in West Bank and Gaza, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Uganda, Burundi and Afghanistan. These brief country illustrations suggest there are a variety of approaches and a growing body of experience on which Bank country teams can draw.

The paper concludes by noting areas where additional research would seem appropriate and presenting suggestions for further Bank analytical and operational work.

Go to: http://hpod.pmhclients.com/pdf/baingana-mental-health.pdf