Mental Health Solutions for Internally Displaced Persons: Studying the design, process and outcomes of a large-scale intervention in a camp in South Sudan
Mental health care training offers immediate help in times of war
People who are forced to flee war and violence often suffer serious emotional and psychological problems. According to Dennis Abraham, these problems can be identified and treated even in very difficult conditions, such as crowded refugee camps, with almost no mental health professionals. Most importantly, local community members can be trained to safely and effectively support others with mental health difficulties.
Abraham’s findings show that mental health support can and should be part of emergency aid, not something postponed until crises are over. In practice, this means that refugee camps, disaster shelters, and conflict zones can immediately include basic mental health care by training trusted community members, rather than waiting for scarce specialists.
Mental health care does not have to wait until a crisis is over or until specialists arrive. With the right guidance and community involvement, meaningful mental health support can be provided early, helping people recover dignity, strength, and hope even in the middle of displacement and conflict. Displaced families benefit through reduced distress and better coping, while aid agencies gain practical, low-cost tools that can be scaled quickly.
More information on the thesis
