Global Mental Health

Question 1

What are the profound mental health challenges created by war and displacement?

Answer 1

Unique impacts on women, children, and the elderly

Over 117 million forcibly displaced people reported by UNHCR (2023), many in low- and middle-income countries.

Question 2

What was the impact of the Kosovo War (1998-1999) on the population?

Answer 2

Nearly 90% of the population was uprooted, leading to long-term mental health impacts on women and children

Many endured or witnessed violence and displacement (Kienzler, 2012).

Question 3

How is trauma often perceived across different cultures?

Answer 3

Trauma is seen as universal but can manifest differently

Western approaches emphasize PTSD as a primary concern (APA, 2017).

Question 4

What are the risk factors for PTSD according to Western approaches?

Answer 4

Severity of the traumatic event, individual and social context, biological factors

(APA, 2017).

Question 5

What somatic symptoms did Kosovar Albanian women report due to war-related stress?

Answer 5

High blood pressure, chest pain, other somatic symptoms

Reflecting cultural expressions of trauma (Kienzler, 2022).

Question 6

What are social ruptures and their impact on society?

Answer 6

Disrupt societal cohesion and reveal internal social conflicts

Require reparative mechanisms to rebuild social order (Wagner-Pacifici, 1994).

Question 7

How did displacement affect Kosovar refugees’ social structures?

Answer 7

Led to shared memories of trauma and loss impacting community bonding

(Behrouzan, 2018).

Question 8

What are some trauma-focused approaches to mental health?

Answer 8

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), psychosocial interventions

Tailored to conflict-affected populations (Miller & Rasmussen, 2010).

Question 9

What role did mobile clinics play during the Kosovo conflict?

Answer 9

Provided psychological counseling and training for local health professionals

Enhanced community-based support (Kienzler, 2012).

Question 10

What do community-based approaches to mental health emphasize?

Answer 10

Cultural sensitivity and local engagement

Aiming to address social conditions like poverty and food security (Pedersen, Kienzler & Guzder, 2015).

Question 11

How do local idioms influence expressions of distress?

Answer 11

Represent culturally embedded ways of articulating mental distress

Examples include nervoz (irritability) and mërzitna (sadness).

Question 12

What culturally specific term did Kosovar Albanian women use to describe irritability?

Answer 12

Nervoz

Highlighting culturally specific ways of expressing distress (Nichter, 2010).

Question 13

What do transcultural models in clinical practice encourage?

Answer 13

Integrating cultural consultation to improve diagnostic accuracy

Involves collaboration among patients, culture brokers, and health professionals (Jarvis, 2023).

Question 14

What risk is associated with over-reliance on cultural frameworks in mental health?

Answer 14

Stereotyping patients and obscuring broader structural factors

Such as racism and socioeconomic disparities (Abramowitz, 2010).

Question 15

What can result from focusing only on cultural differences without considering systemic issues?

Answer 15

Inadequate health interventions that fail to address root causes of distress

(Castaneda, 2010).

Question 16

What is necessary for understanding trauma and mental health in war contexts?

Answer 16

A nuanced approach balancing culturally sensitive models with broader structural perspectives

Emphasizing community-based and transcultural models for effective interventions.