July 4 juillet 16:00 – 17:45
Room NCDH–201
Chair:
Pierre Deschamps
, Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, Ottawa
Discussant: Thomas Wenzel
, University Hospital
for Psychiatry, Vienna
This paper will give an outline of the experience of the Canadian Center for Victims of Torture (CCVT) in rebuilding support networks for torture survivors trying to resettle in Canada. It will make reference to the programs at CCVT with emphasis on the volunteer program as a core program. It will describe the methodology and findings of a four-year research project conducted in partnership with the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto.
Changes to broad social structures can disrupt human relationships and the reconstruction of human relationships contributes to social change. The initial research project qualitatively evaluated the “Befriending” component of the Volunteer Program at CCVT. The importance of reconnecting with the surroundings is paramount to the process of heeling from trauma, but this “reconnection” presents challenges such as, forming relationships among individuals, forming relationships in the context of trauma,·cross-cultural communication, the need for safety and protection and connecting with the wider picture. During the presentation, these five aspects will be explored in depth. Audience participation in the discussion will be encouraged.
One of the outcomes of this project was a training
workshop (two-days long) that included a manual for volunteers, staff and
clients. The materials displayed in this presentation will relate to
the images chosen in the Manual “Befriending Survivors of Torture” in an
effort to accurately communicate the issues encountered during the data
gathering portion of the project. The images also address the preferences in
learning styles suggested by the researchers and other participants of the
project. The
CCVT has always been aware of the need for going beyond tolerance and arriving
at respect for human rights in order to attain harmony. Therefore, the
presentation will aim at sharing our findings on the importance of community
support for the mental health of survivors of torture and to achieve social
change.
This is a retrospective comparative study of three groups
of students following a rebel terrorist attack on their school. During the
night attack, the rebels set fire to the school dormitories in which about 80
students died, 50 suffered burns and 80 were abducted for recruitment into the
rebel ranks. The rest (250) escaped with no physical injuries.
The severely burnt victims were rescued and transferred to Mulago
Teaching Hospital where they received immediate and
intensive physical and psychiatric treatment. Months later, some of the
abducted students escaped and five presented for psychiatric treatment. Attempts to organize treatment for the
non-physically injured students failed. This study compares profiles, treatments and prognostic outcome
of the three groups of survivors (1) the burnt but immediately treated; (2) the abducted who received delayed
treatment; (3) the escaped, never injured and never treated.
A modified Arcle’s IRCT standardized questionnaire comprising
symptoms of depression, anxiety, somatization, trauma events as well as a DSM
IV PTSD was used. Results showed that the burnt but immediately treated group
recovered completely with no residual PTSD symptoms despite significant
physical injury (burns); those who were abducted and tortured, but eventually
escaped and later received treatment developed chronic and often complex PTSD
symptoms; and the escaped uninjured group had minimal symptoms, although one
subsequently became severely depressed and killed himself.
These findings underscore the need for immediate psychiatric
intervention for all traumatized victims and call for the establishment of a
crisis response team to handle the victims of mass traumatization due to rebel
attacks or bomb blasts. Lastly, we found that supportive social networks and
economic empowerment enhanced the victims’ confidence and recovery. We,
therefore, recommend this intervention in all rehabilitative programs for
traumatized victims.
Introduction:
On March 17th, 2000, the world woke up to the horror of what came
to be the largest cult instigated mass death–1000 dead at Kanungu in
Southwestern Uganda. Prisoners from a nearby prison were used to excavate and
rebury these bodies without concern about their psychological traumatization.
Objective: To investigate the psychological trauma suffered by the
prisoners who were forced to excavate mass graves of decomposing dead bodies
at Kanungu. Methods:
A previously tested research instrument was administered to all the prison
inmates of Rukungiri Prison in Southwestern Uganda. This research instrument
identified socio-demographics, physical and psychological trauma, charges,
sentence and legal status and psychological assessment batteries. Results:
For purposes of analysis, the prisoners were divided into two groups: the
“Exposed group”, 30 (28.3%) who participated in the mass grave excavations
and reburials and the “Non Exposed” group 76 (71.7%) who did not
participate in this exercise. The Excavation Group had significantly higher
GHQ scores (p=0.0011) and significantly more patients who met the criteria for
Post Traumatic Stress disorder (PTSD) 23 (76.7%) compared to 4 (5%) in the Non
Excavation Group (p=0.000). Conclusions and
Recommendations: Prisoners who participated in the excavation of mass
graves suffered significant psychological traumatization. There is therefore a
need to improve prisoner conditions in Uganda including the observance of the
Human Rights. References: 1. Beebe G.W. (1975) Follow-up studies of
World War II and Korean War Prisoners. Part II Morbidity, Disability and
Maladjustments. American Journal of Epidemiology 101:400-422.
2. El Sarraj, Punamaki R.L., Summerfield D, et al (1993). Experiences
of Torture and ill treatment and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms among
Palestinian Political Prisoners. Journal of Traumatic Stress Disorder 9:
595-606.
Return to Schedule | Return to Montreal 2001 Main Page | Return to IALMH Main Page