Do not forget culture when implementing mental health interventions for violence survivors

Armed conflict has positioned Colombia as the country with the second highest internal displacement of citizens. This situation has forced government projects and international cooperation agencies to intervene to mitigate the impact of violence; however, the coping strategies implemented by the cou...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ciência & saude coletiva 2017-09, Vol.22 (9), p.3053-3059
Main Authors: Bonilla-Escobar, Francisco Javier, Osorio-Cuellar, Gisel Viviana, Pacichana-Quinayáz, Sara Gabriela, Sánchez-Rentería, Gabriela, Fandiño-Losada, Andrés, Gutiérrez, Maria Isabel
Format: Article
Language:eng ; por
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological
Adult
African Continental Ancestry Group - psychology
Armed Conflicts - psychology
Colombia
Communities
Coping
Cultural Characteristics
Culture
Female
Focus Groups
Health Policy & Services
Humans
International cooperation
Intervention
Male
Mental health
Mental Health Services - organization & administration
Middle Aged
Minority & ethnic groups
Pain
Survivors - psychology
Violence
Violence - psychology
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Armed conflict has positioned Colombia as the country with the second highest internal displacement of citizens. This situation has forced government projects and international cooperation agencies to intervene to mitigate the impact of violence; however, the coping strategies implemented by the country's minorities are still unknown. The study objective is to describe the coping strategies and their relation with mental health within Afro-descendant culture in Colombia and the effects that armed conflict has on these coping mechanisms, through a phenomenological study involving focus groups and interviews with experts. Rituals and orality have a healing function that allow Afro-Colombian communities to express their pain and support each other, enabling them to cope with loss. Since the forced displacement, these traditions have been in jeopardy. Armed conflict prevents groups from mourning, generating a form of latent pain. Afro-Colombians require community interventions that create similar spaces for emotional support for the bereaved persons in the pre-conflict period. Thus, it is essential to understand the impact of this spiritual and ritualistic approach on mental health issues and the relevance of narrative and community interventions for survivors.
ISSN:1413-8123
1678-4561
1678-4561
1413-8123
DOI:10.1590/1413-81232017229.12982016