Proposed social interventions to address contexts of women’s mental distress in conflict and promote mental health competencies
| Community mental health competencies (Burgess 201278; Burgess et al 201723) | Local definition and contexts tackled | Sample social interventions and strategies to develop competency |
| Knowledge | Knowledge about mental health-related services, when they should be accessed (including support with substance use) Promoting knowledge about indigenous practices and systems of healing; and organisations that work with survivors of IPV (Cultural and Political contexts) | Group-based narrative therapy, combined with social interventions/support72 |
| Safe spaces and dialogue | Spaces to promote the development of critical consciousness to explore how structural issues, particularly the patriarchy, link to mental health experiences Work to challenge wider public discourses that enable gender-based violence (Cultural and political contexts) | Community conversations Emphasis on intergenerational approach (conversations between women and their female lineage) Community radio and other media projects (film, storytelling, performance art, photography)79–81 |
| Solidarity and identification of local strengths | Spaces to identify and build on local strengths and existing capacities in order to establish long-term local efforts to deal with structural violence (Cultural Economic and political contexts) | Group-based approaches such as women’s circles which are augmented with microfinance or livelihood projects82 |
| Partnerships with external agencies | Opportunities to establish links to public and private sector agents to support efforts to ensure stable economic and social development (Economic, and political contexts) | Training for victim support advisor to support establishing networks between social and economic organisations and communities Appropriate funding mechanisms for women’s development programming |
IPV, intimate partner violence.