Editorial

Saeed Elmi: PTD in Somali community

August 11, 2011   ·   232683 Commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fsomalilandpress.com%2Fsaeed-elmi-ptd-in-somali-community-23268Saeed+Elmi%3A+PTD+in+Somali+community+2011-08-12+00%3A26%3A49Mohamed+H.+Gulaidhttp%3A%2F%2Fsomalilandpress.com%2F%3Fp%3D23268

Posttraumatic disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental illness that results from the extreme exposure to a life-threatening situation, or being a witness to an event that involves trauma, death, or a threat to one’s physical integrity. Some examples of extreme traumatic events that took place in the 20^th century include the attack on the world trade, the golf war, and the collapse of the Somali government in 1991 that led to the long and protracted civil war.

When one experiences an extremely stressful event or a traumatic event, the trauma can affect the brain in many different ways. According to the National Alliance of Mental illness (NAMI), “Recent scientific understanding shows that experiencing traumatic events can change the way our brains function. Especially with severe or repeated exposure, the brain can be affected in such a way that makes a person feel like the event is happening again and again” (NAMI, 2011).

Soldiers coming back from wars, such us the US soldiers coming back from Iraq or Afghanistan have elevated rate of PTSD.  Many of the soldiers are too ashamed to seek for mental health services because of the stigma associated with mental illness. According to NAMI, “It is important to note that those with PTSD often use alcohol or other drugs in an attempt to self-medicate. Individuals with this disorder may also be at an increased risk for suicide” (NAMI, 2011).

In Somaliland victims of the civil war roam around in the cities without adequate mental health treatment, and high percentage of them suffer from PTSD, and never received treatment for it.    The lack of access to mental health facilities complicates the mater.  “Conflict and civil unrest have adversely affected the mental health of the Somali population. This is particularly the case in the worst- affected regions of central and southern Somalia with the prevalence of psychological trauma and stress generally reported to be most widespread” (WHO, 2001).

In the central and south Somalia were a civil war has been going on since the collapse of Siyad Bare’s dictatorship government, “The World Health Organization (WHO) says many are suffering from mental illness and have become socially isolated and vulnerable.” (Voice of America, February 04, 2011).

Somali government forces run in a street during skirmishes with insurgents from the al-Qaida aligned terrorist group Al-Shabaab in the Wardigley neighborhood in Mogadishu, Somalia, Monday, Sept. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/ Mohamed Sheikh Nor

The above picture is an illustration of the kind of extreme trauma events, which the Somali population witnesses day in and day out. Since there are no mental health facilities, in both Somalia and Somali-land, victims of the civil war, who are suffering from PTSD and other mental illnesses are subjected to discrimination and humiliations, sometimes intentionally and other times because of the populations’ ignorance about mental illnesses. In most cases “People suffering from mental disorders in Somalia continue to be stigmatized by their communities and are subjected to inhumane living conditions, lack basic needs including food, shelter and clothing and have their human rights withheld” (WHO, 2001).

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) sets the criterions for diagnosing mental disorders. Diagnosing PTSD or any other mental illness requires specialized training in psychology and or psychiatry, which both Somalia and Somaliland are in desperate need of, in order to help and provide effective treatments to the mentally ill people affected by both the war and the lack of access to fully functioning healthcare system.

Saeed Abdi Elmi.

BS in Healthcare Administration,

License Psychiatric Technician.

PHD Industrial Organizational Psychology Student

http://blog.somalilandmentalhealth.org 

 

 

 

 

 

References

 NAMI. (2011, August 7). National Alliance of Mental illness. Retrieved from http://http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=54&ContentID=68642

Voice of America. (February 04, 2011). Somalia Conflict takes Toll on Civilian Mental Health. Retrieved from http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/decapua-somalia-mental-health-4feb11-115296739.html

WHO. (2001, August 7). Word health Organization. Retrieved from http://http://www.emro.who.int/somalia/

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By Mohamed H. Gulaid