Asia Working Group Explores the Role of Religious Actors in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support and Conflict Transformation
Townhall | August 2024
The recent USIP and Peacemakers Network’s Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Townhall meeting on August 21, 2024, underscored the pivotal intersection of religious faith and mental health in addressing the needs of conflict-affected communities. This significant gathering featured ongoing research and case studies from the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) from regions such as Myanmar, Latin America, and Kashmir, focusing on the contributions of religious actors in MHPSS programming.
Approximately one in five individuals residing in conflict-affected areas suffer from mental health disorders, as highlighted by the World Health Organization (WHO). Comon conditions include depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Conflict can fracture societies, generating stress related to loss, family separation, gender-based violence (GBV), and ongoing insecurity, thereby increasing the likelihood of recurring violence. In these challenges contexts, religious and faith-based actors become vital to mental health support and conflict transformation.
Over 30 participants from various Network member organizations and stakeholders convened to emphasize the essential role of religious leaders in providing spiritual and psychological support to communities struggling with trauma. The meeting aimed to explore how religious and MHPSS responses can be synergized to better assist conflict-affected populations.
The USIP team presented an overview of its MHPSS project initiated in Myanmar in May 2023, addressing the psychological needs arising from 2021 military coup, In this emerging landscape, religious and mental health practitioners have become instrumental, although they face challenges such as limited resources and diverse understandings of mental health. The project utilized a two-phased approach: 1) a research and community readiness assessment, followed by 2) a training of trainers (ToT) program, training 159 community leaders to provide psychosocial support.
The success of the project was significantly attributed to participant dedication, with six champions emerging from the ToT program to disseminate training further, spreading knowledge and enhancing capacities within their communities. Key lessons emphasized was the need for localized, context-specific approaches, particularly when collaborating with religious leaders from varied backgrounds. For instance, the Myanmar Youth Foundation illustrated how teachings from Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism can be leveraged to promote mental health and social cohesion. Insights were also gleaned from the Kashmir context, notably from the International Center for Peace Psychology (ICPP), which offers community-based MHPSS support through psychoeducation and grassroots engagement.
Key Townhall Takeaways and Future Recommendations
1. Culturally and Faith-Sensitive MHPSS Programs: Develop localized approaches that respect the faith and cultural contexts of affected communities to enhance MHPSS interventions.
2. Building Mental Health Resilience: Address mental health within broader social cohesion and peacebuilding efforts, creating safe spaces for individuals to heal in Myanmar and Kashmir.
3. Collaborative Approaches: Foster collaboration among diverse stakeholders – including religious leaders, public health professionals, and community-based organizations – to create holistic MHPSS interventions.
4. Future Programming Recommendations: Advocate for mental health awareness within religious institutions in conflict-affected regions.
5. Expand MHPSS Services: Increase access to mental health services for marginalized and displaced populations in conflict-affected regions.
6. Strengthen Partnerships: Enhance collaborations between religious actors and MHPSS practitioners to established community-based mental health services.
Follow the Network’s Asia Programming on social