Trauma-Responsive Community Reconciliation (TRCR)
TRCR provides culturally adapted trauma-responsive psychoeducation programmes that address community reconciliation through identifying and addressing the impact of psychological trauma on individuals and across communities.
Background
The Afghan Peace Negotiations build on the US-Taliban agreement signed in February 2020. The current peace process has the opportunity to not only bring peace after 20 years of conflict, while maintaining the social and economic gains the donor community has worked to achieve, but also ensure that Afghanistan can no longer serve as a refuge for groups that would threaten regional security and stability. The success of the peace process and stability in Afghanistan will depend on immediate efforts to build social cohesion, enable reconciliation and foster inclusion in peace talks.
TRCR Development
This donor supported initiative provided a clinical-based framework for research supporting trauma responsive community reconciliation as part of the peace process in Afghanistan targeting inclusivity and momentum.
The initiative asked the Afghan people about: Health; wellbeing; impact of conflict; relationships; community; faith; and their desire for peace; across the provinces of Nangahar, Kandahar, Herat and Balkh.
People were united in their views on many subjects. They shared that:
- Nearly every family is impacted by psychological disorder (struggling mental health)
- In locations where there has been recent conflict, every family knows a person experiencing nervous shock (psychological trauma)
- Doctors and psychologists are difficult to reach or too expensive to visit
- Example of symptoms people are experiencing:
- Is soon to anger, or irritable and insults people
- Grinds their teeth
- Has high blood pressure or fast pulse
- Struggles to sleep
- Worries all the time
- Doesn’t like talking or listening to people and likes loneliness
- Becomes depressed or feels numb
- These psychological difficulties have resulted in increased aggression between people, groups and communities
- Whilst people in the community support each other, people do not know what to do to help.
Through the initiative people shared that communities needed education and skills so they can better help themselves and others who are struggling with psychological difficulties.
The TRCR education programme was developed in response to that request
The programme provides simple, accessible, free education to both men and women. It is available online, all people need to register is an email address. On the programme people will learn easy to use, proven methods for reducing symptoms of nervous shock and psychological disorder. Anyone can learn; for those that can read there is the online course; and once the online course is completed people can then teach others in their community.
To register for the training click here and complete the online form.