Terrorism, Traumatic Events and Mental Health in Algeria

Abstract

(from the chapter) Outlines a public mental health model with the objective of alleviating the burden of violence and terrorism on the population in Algeria. The reflections from the experience of the Algerian Society for Research in Psychology on psychic trauma and the mental health program they have launched serve as the public mental health model. The assessment of mental health needs were limited to those data provided by the daily work of the authors, complemented by the preliminary results of the an epidemiological survey carried out in partnership with Transcultural Psychosocial Organization. Case examples illustrate the effects of the violence on social structure and social and family values. The effects of the violence include a lack of trust, feelings of hopelessness, and a decline in the social cohesion, and support. It is concluded that these effects threaten to become the long-term after-effects of the crisis. The after-effects are expected to last for many yrs and to extend to generations that have not been directly exposed to the crisis. Trauma and its impact have not been limited to those who have been directly suffered their direct impact. A description is given of the origins and patterns of violence after a decade of civil and political conflicts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)