The book goes beyond mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) to a holistic approach centered on healing. The book lays at the intersection of peacebuilding, global mental health, and development. In many parts of the world, entire generations live in chronic violence―just surviving. The exposure to violence has long-lasting effects which are not well accounted for in conflict analysis, stabilization efforts, peacebuilding, and governance initiatives. Extreme exposure to violence, abuse, neglect, and marginalization negatively affects levels of resilience and the ability of affecting the transition from violence to peace. A healing-centered peacebuilding approach requires fundamental changes in how systems are designed, organizations function, and practitioners engage with people, their communities, and their institutions. Key elements of the practice-based approach included inclusion, customization and contextualization, breaking cycles of violence, systems thinking, and trauma-informed tools. The approach considers emotional distress to be a critical variable in violent conflict and instability. Trauma is not only a consequence of violence, but also a cause of instability.
Author(s): Angi Yoder-Maina
Series: SpringerBriefs in Environment, Security, Development and Peace, 39
Publisher: Springer
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 133
City: Cham
Acknowledgements
Contents
Abbreviations
1 Collective Trauma is a Threat to Stability
1.1 In a Village on the Kenyan-Somali Border, 1991
1.1.1 The Broken Cup – A Trauma-Organized Society
1.2 Covid-19 and Global Collective Distress
1.2.1 Impact of Violence on Peace, Justice, Development, and Governance
1.3 Mainstream Responses
1.3.1 Mental Health Approach
1.3.2 Psychosocial Support Approach
1.3.3 “Ignore It” Approach
1.4 Trauma as a Buzz Word
1.5 My Own Story as a Peacebuilder
1.6 Dissertation Research
1.7 Methodology
1.7.1 Interviews
1.7.2 Challenges
References
2 Literature Review
2.1 Complicated History of How Trauma Has Been Understood
2.2 History of the Term Trauma
2.3 Combat Trauma During the United States (US) Civil War
2.4 Combat Trauma During World War I
2.5 Combat Trauma During World War II
2.6 Standardization of a Trauma Diagnosis in the U.S. (DSM-1 and DSM-2)
2.7 Holocaust-Related Trauma and the Development of Trauma Theory
2.8 Algeria and the Civil War to Overthrow the Colonial Powers
2.9 Vietnam War, the Women’s Movement and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
2.10 Trauma and the DSM and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
2.11 Moving Away from the DSM to a New Model of Mental Health: Psychological Injury (PI)
2.12 Trauma-Responsiveness and Trauma-Informed
2.13 Changing Landscape of Neuroscience Research on Trauma and the Brain
2.14 Historical Trauma Theory
2.15 Cycle of Violence and Post-colonial Theory
2.16 Trauma-Informed Approaches: Challenging Unjust Structures and Institutions
2.17 Social Justice is Wellbeing – A Healing-Center Approach
References
3 Healing Is What Makes Peace Work
3.1 Blue Bench’s Transformation: Systems Thinking
3.2 Healing-Centered Peacebuilding Practice
3.2.1 Research Findings
3.2.2 Chronic Violence and Its Link to Trauma
3.2.3 Healing-Centered Peacebuilding Theory
3.3 Mama Anisa’s Story: Inclusion
3.4 Inclusion
3.4.1 Multidisciplinary and Multisectoral
3.4.2 A Role for Lived Experience
3.4.3 Local and Traditional Healers Are Included
3.5 Using Art and Storytelling: Customization and Contextualization
3.5.1 Customization and Contextualization
3.5.2 Community-Informed and Culturally Adapted
3.5.3 Storytelling and Rituals Create Meaning
3.5.4 Uses a Decolonizing Approach
3.5.5 Utilizes Community Resources Sustainably
3.6 Famau’s Story: Breaking Cycles of Violence
3.6.1 Breaking Cycles of Violence
3.6.2 Overview of the Cycle of Violence
3.6.3 Engaging Both Victims and Perpetrators
3.6.4 Supporting the Development of Agency
3.7 Ubah’s Story: Systems Thinking
3.7.1 Systems Thinking
3.7.2 Resilience-Informed
3.7.3 A Foundation for Development, Justice, and Governance Interventions
3.7.4 Including Collective Healing Approaches
3.7.5 Promotes Ecological Healing
3.7.6 A Story About Friendship: Trauma-Informed Tools
3.7.7 Trauma-Informed Tools
3.7.8 Relationships Hold and Transform Space for Others
3.7.9 Neuroscience Concepts Ground Practice
3.7.10 Embodied Practices Regulate the Nervous System
3.7.11 Arts-Based Interventions Open Creativity and Innovation
3.8 Conclusion
3.9 Implications for Practice and Policy
References
4 Healing-Centered Peacebuilding Practice
4.1 Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience (STAR), Eastern Mennonite University
4.1.1 Inclusion
4.1.2 Customization and Contextualization
4.1.3 Breaking Cycles of Violence
4.1.4 Systems Thinking
4.1.5 Trauma-informed Tools and Practice
4.1.6 A STAR Story
4.2 Green String Network (GSN), Horn of Africa
4.2.1 Inclusion
4.2.2 Customization and Contextualization
4.2.3 Breaking Cycles of Violence
4.2.4 Systems Thinking
4.2.5 Trauma-informed Tools and Practice
4.2.6 A GSN Example of Healing-Centered Peacebuilding
4.3 Nagarik Aawaz, Nepal
4.3.1 Inclusion
4.3.2 Customization and Contextualization
4.3.3 Breaking Cycles of Violence
4.3.4 Systems Thinking
4.3.5 Trauma-informed Tools and Practice
4.3.6 Nagarik Aawaz Example of Healing-Centered Peacebuilding
4.4 Conclusion
References
5 Recommendations
5.1 Policy Recommendations
5.1.1 Policy Recommendation Theme 1: Localization Must Be Authentic
5.1.1.1 Reframe to a Strength-Based Approach
5.1.1.2 Support Communities to Own Their Own Healing Agendas
5.1.1.3 Design Interventions with a Healing-Centered Foundation
5.1.2 Policy Recommendation Theme 2: Support Community-Driven Approaches
5.1.2.1 Move Away from Biomedical Only Models
5.1.2.2 Invest in Adaptation for Context and Culture
5.2 Programming Recommendations
5.2.1 Integrate Multi-disciplinary and Multi-sectoral Teams
5.2.2 Prioritize Evidence-Based Research
5.2.3 Unite with Those Working on Environmental Issues
5.3 Recommendations for Teaching Future Peacebuilders Who Will Manage Peacebuilding Organizations
5.3.1 Prepare Students to Face Trauma in Their Work and to Include Healing
5.3.2 Implications for Organizations Working in Chronic Violence
5.4 Conclusion
References
Green String Network
Green String Network
About the Author
About This Book
Index
