2023-10-10 16:00:00
Originally article published in El País.
It was the worst Christmas surprise. An armed group took Wilmer away on Christmas Eve 2010. He was 15 years old and his mother never saw him again. From then on, his days were filled with anguish. “It is very painful, there are times of waiting, times of stress, of desperation, of suffering. Everything ends, everything is damaged, everything is lost,” she tells us, admitting not knowing what feelings to share or not to share with friends and family. “What you keep quiet about sometimes affects you personally and emotionally,” she adds.
The situation you describe is a dramatic challenge to your mental health. But she’s not alone, and she doesn’t give up. Her name is Margarita and she lives in southern Colombia, but her story could be that of many other women in Latin America. Different and, at the same time, very similar stories, which leave painfully long-lasting emotional scars.
Globally, around 66 million people live under the control of armed groups. In cities like Port-au-Prince, for example, there are already 150 groups operating in the metropolitan area alone. Inevitably, the consequences of this violence, linked to both conflicts and organized crime, affect the mental well-being of entire communities.
Those living in areas affected by conflict or armed violence are three times more likely to experience mental health difficulties, from depression and anxiety to post-traumatic stress disorder, than the general population. They are hidden wounds that last over time, affect individuals, generations and entire societies, and often remain unattended because it is decided to face apparently more serious problems. However, the cost of ignoring the impact of violence on mental health is staggering.
I have been able to see this firsthand in each and every one of the areas affected by violence and conflict that I have visited in recent years as regional director of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for the Americas. Although psychological trauma may be less visible than physical trauma, its effects are no less destructive, especially when prolonged over time.
Therefore, the institutional commitment to mental health must necessarily be able to be measured through the implementation of public policies in areas of difficult access, with scarce services and a highly vulnerable population. The alarming lack of professionals in areas affected by violence and armed conflict is a scourge for our countries and their most vulnerable inhabitants, time and again victimized and stigmatized when they try to access support that should be a right.
Increasingly, institutions around the world explicitly recognize the importance of addressing mental health needs in areas affected by violence. The fifth World Mental Health Summit, held these days in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is an example of the region’s interest in addressing and confronting this situation.
However, although progress is significant and encouraging, we still have a long way to go. Beyond words, concrete measures are needed that, in some cases, can save lives.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) works every day to access these areas and offer support to the communities most affected by violence. In 2022, we implemented 64 mental health and psychosocial support programs in Latin America, benefiting more than 13,000 people. We are aware, however, that the challenge we face will not be solved by a single organization or initiative.
To close the gap of inequality in the access of victims of violence to mental health care, budget and political will are required at all levels, in a coordinated and sustainable effort. The men, women and children affected by armed violence in Latin America and around the world deserve firm and decisive action from us, which has a real impact where it is needed most.
Sophie Orr She is regional director of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for America.
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