Name: Bringing peace to the minds of Afghanistan
Uploaded: 2010-09-29T08:24:00Z
Duration: 10 min 23 s
Description: When Jungian analyst Inge Missmahl visited Afghanistan, she saw the inner wounds of war -- widespread despair, trauma and depression. And yet, in this county of 30 million people, there were only two dozen psychiatrists. Missmahl talks about her work helping to build the country's system of psychosocial counseling, promoting both individual and, perhaps, national healing.

When Jungian analyst Inge Missmahl visited Afghanistan, she saw the inner wounds of war -- widespread despair, trauma and depression. And yet, in this county of 30 million people, there were only two dozen psychiatrists. Missmahl talks about her work helping to build the country's system of psychosocial counseling, promoting both individual and, perhaps, national healing.

Bringing peace to the minds of Afghanistan

Decades of war left most Afghans facing despair, depression, and trauma, with 54 percent of children under five suffering from malnutrition. Traditional aid and medication failed to address deep emotional wounds, but community-based psychosocial counseling offered a new path. In Kabul, over 11,000 people sought help, and 70 percent regained their lives after culturally-sensitive emotional support. Empathy and witnessing proved crucial for breaking cycles of violence and restoring participation in family and society.