“War is not the Only Trauma:” Rethinking Psychosocial Healing in Complex Emergencies

Abstract

War inevitably leads to a degree of psychological trauma among affected populations. This paper critiques Western-based, clinical interventions as detrimental to an already demoralized population. Ager’s (2002) framework of psychosocial intervention – human capacity, social ecology, and culture and values – is appropriate in the context of complex emergencies. Building upon an ecosystems perspective, Ager’s framework considers the whole individual and promotes strengths and resiliencies. Social workers are ideal facilitators of this type of community-based, culturally-salient, psychosocial programming, due to its application of the field’s core principles and its commitment to empowering community members to participate in their own recovery.

Keywords

• Social work
• Social service
• War
• Psychological trauma
• Psychosocial healing
• Psychosocial programming
• Mental health