Global Courant 2023-04-16 22:03:20
The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) conducts a five-day training program to equip personnel with skills and knowledge to respond to their mental health and psychological needs during their service to the mission.
The training on mental health and psychosocial support in peace support operations is organized by the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) in collaboration with the Accra-based Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center (KAIPTC) and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ). ).
Speaking at the opening ceremony in Mogadishu, Special Representative of the Chair of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef, outlined the mental health risks and challenges faced by personnel in peacekeeping missions is confronted.
“As military and police personnel, exposure to trauma may be unavoidable in a stressful operational environment such as Somalia. We are exposed to violence, death and destruction, which can negatively impact our mental well-being and lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),’ Amb noted. souf.
During the training, ATMIS employees learn how violent conflict affects mental health, families, communities, and the impact of trauma and post-traumatic stress on peacekeepers and the mission; and how to manage stress while on a mission.
During the opening session, Colonel Emmanuel Gyadu, the course director of the KAIPTC, noted that personnel serving in African Union peace support operations, such as ATMIS, are often exposed to traumatic events that affect their mental health.
“This mission is one of the toughest in the world. The negative impact, mental, social and psychological, on the citizens and participants in this operation cannot be overemphasized. It is for this reason that the center has deemed it necessary to bring this course to the door of the mission.”
amb. Souef, who is also the head of ATMIS, said soldiers exposed to stress and trauma on the battlefield are more likely to experience mental health problems when they return home, but they lack the financial resources to get medical help.
He noted that while pre-deployment training prepares soldiers for the physical and mental rigors of serving in the mission, post-deployment psychosocial support after serving in the mission will help meet the troops’ mental health needs. health.
“The African Union should formulate guidelines ensuring that structures are put in place within AU-led peace support operations such as ATMIS to provide post-deployment psychosocial support and treatment services to our military and police personnel,” he said. amb. souf.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).
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