Toward a Multisystemic Framework for Mental Health, Social Cohesion
HHr Health and Human Rights Journal Societal Healing in Rwanda: Toward a MultisystemicHHR_final_logo_alone.indd 1 10/19/15 10:53 AM Framework for Mental Health, Social Cohesion, and Sustainable Livelihoods among Survivors and Perpetrators of the Genocide against the Tutsi alexandros lordos, myria Ioannou, eugène rutembesa, stefani christoforou, eleni anastasiou, and thröstur björgvinsson Abstract The genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda left the country almost completely devastated, with tremendous consequences for mental health, social cohesion, and livelihoods. In the aftermath of such extreme circumstances and human rights violations, societal healing should be conceptualized and approached based on a multisystemic framework that considers these three sectors—mental health, social cohesion, and livelihoods—as well as their interactions. The aims of the present study are twofold: (1) to review evidence on multisystemic healing initiatives already applied in Rwanda using fieldwork notes from interviews and focus groups, alongside relevant scholarly and gray literature, and (2) to propose a Alexandros Lordos, PhD, is a Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at the Department of Psychology of the University of Cyprus and the Special Advisor on Mental Health and Peacebuilding at Interpeace, Geneva, Switzerland. Myria Ioannou, PhD, is a Postdoctoral Researcher in Clinical Psychology at the Department of Psychology of the University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus. Eugène Rutembesa, PhD, is a Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda. Stefani Christoforou, MSc, is a postgraduate student in the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program at the Department of Psychology of the University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus. Eleni Anastasiou, MSc, is a postgraduate student in the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program at the Department of Psychology of the University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.
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