As Veronika wrote this blog the war between Israel and Hamas has broken out. The war between Russia and Ukraine slogs brutally on. The wars in Myanmar, Sudan, and Ethiopia continue with little outside attention. All these conflicts create countless mental health casualties. Long after wars are over such casualties take a terrible toll on those with such wounds. Then there are the wars in homes and even workplaces and communities that can cause deep damage. Veronika speaks to these and other dimensions of mental health, giving some special insight and resources.
YOUR RIGHT TO MENTAL HEALTH
It is probably no coincidence that we celebrated the 20th anniversary of Brainspotting on World Mental Health Day. An all-day, non-stop event.
This year’s World Health Day theme is “Mental health is a universal human right”. According to the WHO website, “everyone, wherever and whenever they are, has the right to the highest attainable standard of mental health. This includes the right to be protected from mental health risks, the right to available, accessible, acceptable and good quality care, and the right to liberty, independence and inclusion in the community.”
A little – or not a little – it sounds like a mockery. So I would like to ask, is war considered a risk to mental health? And how can we protect ourselves against it? But rhetorical questions, as you know, do not require an answer because it is obvious.
Yes, neither I nor the entire international Brainspotting community can undo or stop the misfortunes and disasters that happen in the world. This helplessness makes me very sad from time to time. But focusing on what I can’t do is unlikely to help me or anyone else, except to drive us deeper into depression. No, thank you.
But what I and the community can do is offer our presence and support during the crisis. And we hope that this will make those we help more resilient. Because disasters, large and small, are going to happen. And a big risk to mental health is not recognizing that. Just think about what you have been through in your life – literally make a list. But I hope that you will not only see the crises, but also realize that you have the inner strength to overcome adversity. And that there has been help along the way.
In response to the WHO’s call for awareness today, and in case you were wondering, I would like to inform you that Brainspotting is based on the fact that certain eye positions are associated with certain areas of the brain – brainspots – where traumatic memories are stored. By helping clients identify these brainspots, therapists and practitioners facilitate the processing of a variety of issues, including anxiety, depression, trauma, and addiction. Brainspotting is considered an evidence-based therapy (many studies can be found on brainspotting.com in the “Research and Case Studies” section).
I would like to remind you that the Brainspotting Help project (www.brainspottinghelp.com) provides an opportunity for all affected by the war of Russian against Ukraine – in case they apply, of course – to receive up to 10 free sessions from excellent specialists. Adults, children, and teenagers can apply. This project is an international one helping victims from many traumatic contexts.
Realize your right to mental health, and help others realize it!
Veronika Voloshyna is one of our leading Global Peace Warriors. To learn more about her, click here. She lived in Dnipro, Ukraine until she became a refugee after the war started, currently living in the Netherlands. Check out her other poems and blogs in our Blog section.
Trauma healing is a major topic in the Global Peace Warriors website. For conflict transformation training videos on trauma transformation, click here. Sharon and Dan Buttry’s “Daughters of Rizpah: Nonviolence and the Transformation of Trauma” is available at most booksellers. Many of the stories of transforming initiatives come out of great trauma: click here. This website deals mostly with various aspects of conflict transformation, but we support and encourage deeper engagement in the field of mental health both for one’s own needs and for the calling of helping others.
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