Children in Conflict zones
Conflict in it of itself is not the only cause of mental health rather, it is the complications that arise during and after conflict that cause mental health to worsen. As this article illustrates, there were several Millenium Development Goals that showed a correlation between violence and mental disorders. As a delegate, you should consider these outside factors so that you may develop solutions that encompass the entire issue and not just one aspect.
Remember, having specific solutions is key to drafting an effective resolution. Thus, I encourage you to take into account short and long term solutions. This article does a great job of introducing possible long-term solutions such as the improvement of sanitation in post conflict zones. For example, the authors write “A prolonged lack of access to adequate water supplies can cause brain damage, thereby affecting the development of cognitive abilities with lifelong consequences”. Creating a solution to this smaller aspect of mental health could potentially result in long-term improvements so I encourage you all to think outside the box in order to tackle all the obstacles of this issue.
Overall, it is important to note that there are many indirect ways of solving the issue of mental health in conflict zones. Aside from direct solutions such as an increase in mental health professionals, mobile clinics, etc. you should address how indirect solutions such as increasing primary school enrollment for children may positively impact mental health.
I hope you enjoy this article and it helps you further develop your understanding of the crisis at hand. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
This is really interesting and definitely something that comes up a lot during the research process. The United Kingdom believes that both long and short term solutions are essential because these people are suffering to the point of needing immediate help, but still need long term development-- related solutions in their regions. It's like having an overflowing bath-tub and using towels to clean up the puddles. If the faucet is still running, the puddles will just come back in the long run, and the towels would have no long-term helping effect.
ReplyDelete- Lauren & Isabelle
Lauryn and Kaylin (Peru)
ReplyDeletePeru believes that the children in the conflict zones should be one of our main focuses in committee. As this article shows, resources, such as nourishing food and clean water, has a direct correlation to the mental health of children. We must find ways to bring education to these children along with the tools to help them clean water and cultivate food. Peru believes that it is imperative to focus on children when discussing mental health, as they are the future generation.
Ethiopia would like to further stress the importance of specifically addressing the detrimental mental health effects on children that result from exposure to violence in conflict zones. Through our research, derived from the article, we have discovered how fascinating it is that the deprivation of water can lead to cognitive disabilities, as well as how a lack of education can also contribute to mental conditions in toddlers, adolescents, and teens. In countries where neighboring areas face minor conflicts throughout a five year period, a 1.3% decrease is created in the amount of individuals who attend schooling. The article also introduced a captivating concept called the conflict trap. This conflict trap brings us to the question of how we can devise solutions in order to break this ruthless cycle? We can not wait to meet our fellow delegates and further discuss this critical issue in committee this weekend!
ReplyDelete-Ethiopia (Jocelyn & Ryann)
Japan finds in imperative that there must be a larger stance on the effects of mental health diseases in both conflict and post conflict zones. This article directly shows the negative effects of mental health diseases during brain growth, specifically with the products of water and food, which are necessary in order for adolescents to thrive as adults. Along with this article it has been known that currently over 3.9 million adolescents suffer from mental health diseases and are in need of a solution, which Japan believes must be one of the most important focal points of our committee while discussing mental health. This article also brings to the attention the issues presented within the conflict trap, which then addresses the questions that we as a committee must be able to solve. We cannot wait to meet everyone in our committee and futher discuss this impressing issue this weekend!
ReplyDelete- Japan (Carina & Emma)
Good evening, honorable chairs and fellow delegates!
ReplyDeleteBelgium recognizes a variety of influencing factors that have an impact on mental health, especially in conflict zones. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, physical needs take priority over all other needs. Thus, in order to begin improving mental health in conflict and post-conflict zones, it is necessary to first provide high quality physical healthcare to those suffering. Belgium encourages strong and frequent collaboration with both international NGOs and local humanitarian aid workers to maximize the amount of aid given to refugees. Working closely with NGOs and local workers was successful following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti; while the situation is not totally analogous to the events occurring in a conflict zone, Belgium believes that, on principle, they are similar enough to require the same basic framework to operate successfully and efficiently. However, it is important to not be reliant on third-party aid, and we remind this committee of the importance of long-term infrastructure and institutional improvement to prevent conflict from beginning in the first place. Improvement of mental health legislation, education, and respect for culture is equally important in preserving mental health.
Thank you for your time! We look forward to discussing this further on Friday.