Surviving the Conflict, but Trauma Endures


Hi Everyone! I hope your preparation for BMUN's World Health Organization Committee is going well, and that you are as excited as the dias for three amazing days of conference. I want to share with you something that is important to consider writing a resolution and coming up with feasible solutions for the second topic, and that is subjectivity and emotion.

The second topic we are discussing has two challenges: the conflict itself, and the condition of the people going through the conflict. I think that these are two very important and difficult problems to tackle, however in our committee, we will be focusing on the latter. 

Something that I have discovered while learning more about this topic is that it is very challenging to understand the situations people go through in conflict and post-conflict zones. So, I want to share with you some experiences and stories to be able to implement feasible and impactful solutions. 

Image result for mental health in conflict zones
The Intergenerational Effects of War on Health of Children
Levy BS: Health and peace. Croat Med J. 2002, 43: 114-116.
To the right is an image that describes The Intergenerational Effects of War on Health of Children, from a paper that summarize many examples in which the effects of war can propagate across generations. Take some time to analyze this diagram and to read this paper to understand the significant impact of conflict zones in a long-term situation. This paper is also an interesting read and is linked here. 

Next, here is an article that shares stories of how Syrian children are coping with the trauma from the conflict occurring there. It is important to consider these factors of intergenerational effects and how children in the womb, toddlers and youth will be affected by different types of conflict.

Feel free to reach out to any of us if you have any questions! Looking forward to meeting you all in less than 2 weeks :)

Comments

  1. PeruFebruary 27, 2019 at 7:36 PM

    Peru finds it vital to address the conflict that is going on now and the conditions of the people. In the article, the quote, "A 2014 survey by Save the Children found that 40 per cent of Syrian teenagers who fled the war contemplated suicide" (Shaheen), is very striking and it exhibits the current state of people in conflict. We must collaborate to create a therapy program that is accessible to as many people as possible, as this has already been put into place, but could be done better through assessing the weaknesses. Not only is moral support necessary for good mental health, but simple necessities such as primary care, food, water, and education plays a huge part in mental health too. Focusing on the individuals' health care, family situation, and economic status will play a huge part in the discussion during committee.

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    Replies
    1. South AfricaMarch 1, 2019 at 1:43 PM

      Hello Peru,
      The Delegation of South Africa also finds it imperative to be making therapy programs for people affected by mental health, however we also have to address the problem of the social stigmas that surround addressing mental health, which makes it incredibly hard for people attend to therapy. South Africa suggest that we increase the number of primary health care institutions ( please see me for details) that give workshops to people of all ages that teach that mental illness is not something to be ashamed of.

      Delete
  2. BelgiumFebruary 28, 2019 at 7:57 AM

    Good morning!

    Belgium recognizes the impact that trauma causes children, both present and future generations. We believe that the best way to end this trauma is to address and end the conflict; however, we understand that this is a difficult and complicated order not under the jurisdiction of the World Health Organization. Belgium suggests urging the Security Council to address these conflicts swiftly. We also recommend reapportioning the international funds and expenses of refugee camps in order to create more efficient spending plans and budgets. By efficiently maximizing current spending for refugee camps, management can be improved and a stable, safe environment can be established for refugees, which is necessary for mental health recovery. Belgium looks forwards to discussing these solutions in committee. See you all on Friday!

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