Conflict, Mental Health and Peace in Colombia: Improving Global Health Practice Through the Integration of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) and Peacebuilding

With 22.1% of conflict-affected populations impacted by mental disorders, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) has become an essential intervention in conflict-affected areas (Charlson et al, 2019). However, a two-tiered response system exists, splitting responsibility between peacebuilding actors and healthcare actors. This is despite that true "psychosocial? support calls for a combined approach to both individual psychological problems, as well as the structural dynamics of the environment. Furthermore, interventions remain top-down and disconnected from local context, and rarely involve local communities in their design. In response to these issues, my research aims to develop integrated, community-led approaches to MHPSS and peacebuilding. Focusing on conflict-affected youth in Colombia, my research approach will apply Community Psychology and participatory methodologies to facilitate inclusive community action and healing. The result will be a community-led model for integrated "psychosocial peacebuilding" which can be adapted and applied in other conflict-affected contexts.