MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR OF INTERVENTION
Intervention, the journal for mental health, psychosocial work and counselling in areas or armed conflict
War and armed conflict has occurred throughout history. Those who suffer most are usually civilians, and this is nothing new. The destruction of violence manifests itself in the destruction of infrastructure and livelihoods, leads to massive displacements and has disastrous effects on the health of people concerned.
The effect on the mental health of those involved in war has often been overlooked, but this is now changing. A new multidisciplinary field is arising: that of mental health and psychosocial support in humanitarian emergencies and disasters. In the midst of this developing discipline stands Intervention, the international journal for mental health, psychosocial work and counselling in areas of armed conflict: a scientific journal that is issued three times per year and is dedicated to the psychosocial aftermath of violence.
The field is new and still in the early stages of development. Intervention wants to connect the world of academic research with that of practitioners working in post conflict settings. The editorial board selects articles on their relevance for practitioners in the field and their value for moving the field forward. Intervention does limit itself to original research papers but also welcomes articles with project-descriptions and viewpoints. Not surprisingly, in a young field, there are strong debates about fundamental issues such as what exactly constitutes a psychosocial intervention (Galapatti, 2003), how broad or how small the field should be defined (Williamson & Robinson, 2006) and what meaning should be given to symptoms of psychotrauma (Vazquez & Perez Salez, 2007; Silove, Manicavasagar, Coello, & Aroche, 2005). Some argue vigorously that addressing mental health and psychosocial problems should primarily be done through community based interventions that re-establish the damaged social fabric of affected communities, others plea for more psychotherapeutic methods (Onyut et al., 2005). Other important elements that receive ample attention in the journal are: ‘how to effectively transfer knowledge and competency’ (Van der Veer, 2003; Baron, 2006), the complex relation between ‘reconciliation’ and ‘mental health’ in countries such as Rwanda (Richters, Dekker, & De Jonge, 2005) and East Timor (Le Touze, Silove, & Zwi, 2004). The journal publishes examples of new and therapeutic approaches that, in a specific context have had good results; such as dance therapy with former child soldiers in Sierra Leone (Harris, 2007) and mental health in primary health care in post Taliban Afghanistan (Ventevogel, 2004). When approaches are tested, inevitably some will prove to have flaws. Intervention does not shy from critical examinations of what does not work well: the difficult reintegration of former child soldiers in Northern Uganda (Akello, Richters, & Reis, 2006), or the well intended but misconstrued psychosocial projects that flooded Sri Lanka after the Tsunami (Wickramage, 2006).
The wide variety of topics, both thematically and geographically makes the journal a must-read for those who want to follow the developments in the field.
The issue of Intervention that is now in preparation and will be published in fall 2008, highlights the development of the interagency guidelines for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies (IASC, 2007). We asked a range of authors to contribute to the issue: From policy makers in UN agencies to practicing mental health professionals, from academic specialists in ‘disaster mental health’ to fieldworkers in disaster struck areas in Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Middle East. This is what Intervention intends to be: a platform with descriptions of projects, with ethnographic descriptions of local viewpoints, and thorough reviews of existing evidence for treatments. Intervention is platform of exchange where all stakeholders can engage in debate, at daggers drawn perhaps, but always with the understanding that we are committed to one goal: how we can best help people to overcome the psychosocial difficulties and mental troubles that are related to war and violence.
Peter Ventevogel
Intervention is a publication of the War Trauma Foundation in the Netherlands and is published though LWW
Peter Ventevogel is a psychiatrist and a medical anthropologist. Since 2002 he has worked in post conflict settings such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Southern Sudan, Jordan and Syria. He is a technical adviser for Mental Health with the non-governmental organisation HealthNet TPO and a regular consultant for UN agencies.
Reference List
Akello, G., Richters, A., & Reis, R. (2006). Reintegration of former child soldiers in northern Uganda: coming to terms with children's agency and accountability. Intervention, 4, 229-243.
Baron, N. (2006). The 'TOT': a global approach for the training of trainers for psychosocial and mental health interventions in countries affected by war, violence and natural disasters. Intervention, 4, 109-126.
Galapatti, A. (2003). What is a Psychosocial Intervention? Mapping the Field in Sri Lanka. Intervention, 1, 3-17.
Harris, D. A. (2007). Pathways to embodied empathy and reconciliation after atrocity: Former boy-soldiers in a dance/movement therapy group in Sierra Leone. Intervention, 5, 203-231.
IASC (2007). IASC Guidelines of Mental Health and Psychosocial support in Emergency Settings. Geneva: Inter-Agency Standing Committee.
Le Touze, D., Silove, D., & Zwi, A. (2004). Can There Be Healing Without Justice? Lessons from the Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation in East Timor. Intervention, 3, 192-202.
Onyut, L. P., Neuner, F., Schauer, E., Ertl, V., Odenwald, M., Schauer, M. et al. (2005). Narrative Exposure Therapy as a treatment for child war survivors with posttraumatic stress disorder: two case reports and a pilot study in an African refugee settlement. BMC.Psychiatry, 5, 7.
Richters, A., Dekker, C., & De Jonge, K. (2005). Reconciliation in the Aftermath of Violent Conflict in Rwanda. Intervention, 203.
Silove, D., Manicavasagar, V., Coello, M., & Aroche, J. (2005). PTSD, depression, and acculturation. Intervention, 3, 46-50.
Van der Veer, G. (2003). Training Counsellors in Areas of Armed Conflict. Intervention, 1, 33-43.
Vazquez, C. & Perez Salez, P. (2007). Planning needs and services after collective trauma: should we look for the symptoms of PTSD? Intervention, 5, 27-40.
Ventevogel, P. K. F. (2004). Developing basic mental health modules for health care workers in Afghanistan. Intervention, 2, 43-54.
Wickramage, K. (2006). Sri Lanka's post-Tsunami psychosocial playground: lessons for future psychosocial programming and interventions following disasters. Intervention, 4, 167-172.
Williamson, J. & Robinson, M. (2006). Psychosocial interventions, or integrated programming for well-being? Intervention, 4, 4-25.