Members of SalusWorld discuss the strain and anxiety that humanitarian workers may feel upon returning home, as well as a protocol for healthy reintegration.

The focus of this chapter is the impact of war on civilian populations. In the first part of the chapter the authors examine lived experiences of war, populations caught in conflict, and the global impact of war. This examination is followed by an assessment of children's developmental and family and community issues tied to war and displacement. In the second part of the chapter, the discussion is focused on relevant historical and cultural issues that anchor an understanding of stressors affecting civilians when they are fleeing from a combat zone. In this section the major phases of the refugee experience (pre-flight, flight, and resettlement) are examined and explored. Finally, current interventions for survivors of armed combat and refugee children and families are examined. A case study is included to serve as a basis for classroom discussion or to aid the individual reader.

For two days in May 2004, fear ruled the central Nigerian town of Yelwa. Homes were destroyed and people were killed, raped and abducted as inter-communal violence flared … “Making the teachers and schools aware of the symptoms was a way to offer them support so the teachers weren’t so overwhelmed with containing the emotion,” explains Gwen Vogel, the MSF psychologist who directed the MSF project. “It's all a byproduct of the trauma.”

According to the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s Study on Violence Against Children (2006), up to 80 to 90% of children suffer physical punishment in their homes, with a third or more experiencing severe physical punishment resulting from the use of implements … The present study investigated the unique human impact of such abuse experiences on an individual’s interpersonal functioning later in life.

This chapter focuses on current research that illuminates counselling practices in African settings. The aim of this focus is first to examine and critique historic and current counselling practices in sub-Saharan Africa, and second, to provide an analysis of the available research that has been conducted on these practices. A recurrent theme in this chapter is an emphasis on the importance of empirically investigating counselling practices and how they are applied in African settings; such rigorous inquiry includes both quantitative and qualitative methods.

SalusWorld matches mental health professionals with international NGOs in need of psychosocial workers. They also provide pre-departure training for volunteers, and conduct workshops and support for those returning from international work. In addition, SalusWorld develops psychosocial projects in support of international humanitarian organizations, provides trauma training for mental health professionals, and offers mental health consultation.

A core member of the SalusWorld team, Gwen is currently stationed in Liberia …

A unique gathering of international psychologists from all disciplines within psychology. As such, the published proceedings of the Congress provide a comprehensive up-to-date overview of the developments within and challenges facing every area of psychology. Dr. Vogel will be presenting about her research in Liberia at the ICP Congress in July 2008.