TY - JOUR PY - 2010// TI - Door to the Unknown: On Large-Scale Public Mental Health Interventions in Postconflict Zones-Experiences From Georgia JO - Traumatology A1 - Makhashvili, Nino A1 - Tsiskarishvili, Lela A1 - Drožđek, Boris SP - 63 EP - 72 VL - 16 IS - 4 N2 - This article presents a model for large-scale public mental health interventions appropriate in the context of the Georgian culture and society. Peculiarities of traumatized communities in the country and their link to sociohistorical events and overall cultural identity are explored; Post-Soviet identity—in particular—as an important factor influencing traumatic impact is discussed. It is suggested that an appropriate large-scale public mental health intervention can not be properly designed without considering the sociopolitical and cultural context of a recipient community. The article also analyses the importance of combining complementary approaches—individually focused trauma treatment and community-based psychosocial assistance. Together, they form a bridge that integrates the individual and the extended Self/village experiences, and facilitates individual and communal coping. Finally, some basic ingredients of culturally-sensitive interventions are presented.

LA - en SN - 1534-7656 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1534765610388302 ID - ref1 ER -