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Posted July 19, 2006
Liberians' Huge Need For Psychological Counseling
A Liberian-US trained psychologist and political
scientist has said he thinks all Liberians are experiencing some level of
psychological trauma as a result of the civil war.
Mr. Andrew Tehmeh,
president of Bong Kwatekeh Association of Minnesota-an association of Bong
citizens residing in Minnesota, and Program
Coordinator of the Center for Families/Greater Minneapolis Council of
Churches observed that the degree of such psychological trauma varies
based on proximity to the conflict zone.
He said those who lived in Liberia at the time of the
conflict vs. those who were away, largely determines the degree of
psychological effect.
The University of Minnesota’s trained psychologist, who
also holds a BA in political Science from the same university, said the most
common psychological problem almost all Liberians experience now is
“Post-trauma Stress Disorder.” “It is a condition that results from
exposure to traumatic situations,” he added.
Responding to question about greater emphasis being
placed on rehabilitating ex-combatants, Tehmeh agrees, but said that while
it may be a great idea for greater emphasis to be placed on ex-combatants
(perpetrators), it is absolutely wrong to neglect non-combatants who were
direct victims of terrific crimes during the civil war.
“I think over-emphasizing the psychological needs of
ex-combatants as is being done in Liberia is more political than
psychological,” said Tehmeh.
He said everyone needs rehabilitation. “But you see, he
continues, in Liberia, the issue of mental health carries with it a high
degree of stigmatization that serves as a disincentive for people seeking
treatment.”
The Master’s of Public Policy candidate at the Hubert
H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota with
concentration in public and non-profit management lamented that the stigma
comes from the fact that mental issues are traditionally associated with
craziness and “no one wants to be considered crazy.”
He said that there is evidence that unresolved
psychological problem impedes the intellectual capacity of people and their
ability to render judgments in terms of public policy.
He said the fact that misguided or faulty public policy
usually affects society at large and its people, one can surmise that
government officials with unresolved psychological problem can pose a
greater danger to society.
He made specific reference to the case of House Speaker
Edwin Snowe, which he said is a perfect example.
“I think our country has a huge need for psychological
counseling that is currently being placed on the backburner,” Tehmeh
observed. He said what government and non-governmental organizations need
to do is to set up culturally appropriate psychological clinics around the
country that address some of these psychological problems.
He said what is happening now is that people are
suppressing these mental issues for fear of the stigma associated with
them. “Education is another way to go in the demystification of
treatment,” Tehmeh said.
Writes,
Thomas Kai Toteh
tnyantk@yahoo.com
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