Trauma, Survival and Resilience in War Zones: The psychological impact of war in Sierra Leone and beyond

Front Cover
Routledge, Oct 16, 2015 - Psychology - 248 pages

This book, based upon a series of psychological research studies, examines Sierra Leone as a case study of a constructivist and narrative perspective on psychological responses to warfare, telling the stories of a range of survivors of the civil war. The authors explore previous research on psychological responses to warfare while providing background information on the Sierra Leone civil war and its context.

Chapters consider particular groups of survivors, including former child soldiers, as well as amputee footballers, mental health service users and providers, and refugees. Implications of the themes emerging from this research are considered with respect to how new understandings can inform current models of trauma and work with its survivors. Amongst the issues concerned will be post-traumatic stress and post-traumatic growth; resilience; mental health service provision; perpetration of atrocities; and forgiveness. The book also provides a critical consideration of the appropriateness of the use of Western concepts and methods in an African context.

Drawing upon psychological theory and rich narrative research, Trauma, Survival and Resilience in War Zones will appeal to researchers and academics in the field of clinical psychology, as well as those studying post-war conflict zones.

 

Contents

Preface
Background
A typical encounter in Freetown
Psychological responses to warfare
The people of Sierra Leone
Eleven years of civil war and eleven years of recovery
Survivors stories
killing was the order of the
walking for your life
Implications
Posttraumatic stress growth and resilience
Mental health service provision
Perpetration of violence
Forgiveness and reconciliation
Culture society and ways of understanding 15 Lessons learnt
Appendix

reconstructing life as a onefoot person
heredity environment or demons?
social context as a frame and a chain

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

About the author (2015)

David A. Winter is Professor of Clinical Psychology and Programme Director of the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire, UK.

Rachel Brown completed her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire, UK, in 2013.

Stephanie Goins serves as Executive Programs Director for Love146, a non-profit organization that works to abolish child exploitation and trafficking.

Clare Mason completed a Masters in Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire, UK, in 2013.

Bibliographic information