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Abstract

This report discusses the relationship between mental health care and post-conflict rehabilitation in Sierra Leone and Liberia. Data were collected during the author's involvement in mental health programmes for extremely distressed so called `child soldiers' in both countries, as well as involvement in co-ordinating and supporting professionals in charge of the war-affected population. Analysis suggested that mental health was neglected. However consideration of mental health is crucial to rehabilitation efforts because it facilitates understanding and appropriate responses to the difficulties encountered by both professionals and demobilized youth, and needs to be incorporated into designing policy, training and interventions.

Keywords

child soldiers mental health post-conflict rehabilitation war-affected youth West Africa-DDRR

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Integrating Mental Health into Post-conflict Rehabilitation

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