Mental health and psychosocial support in areas affected by conflict: Review of programs in the Chechen Republic

Abstract

The social condition addressed in this paper is the mental and psychosocial trauma experienced by victims of violent conflicts. The study aims to evaluate mental health and psychosocial support programs and the healing of the community in its entirety during peace building and reconciliation processes. We use a qualitative method in order to assess the impact of the programs and chose a case study of the Chechen Republic in Russia, due to its recent signing of a peace treaty and cessation of hostilities. The end of violence was selected as the baseline time in order to compare the most current achievements of programs. The study has shown that mental health programs implemented in areas that have recently achieved peace aid in decreasing the general level of violence by de-escalating inner tensions and protracted built-up anger among both victims and perpetrators.