ince 2020, peacebuilders in Asia have encountered significant challenges including political unrest, conflicts, climate change, natural disasters, and the pandemic. These obstacles hinder the development of effective peacebuilding programs, especially in conflict areas where the pandemic exacerbates tensions. Additionally, working in such environments can impact peacebuilders' mental health. Recognizing their unique challenges and addressing them is crucial for their wellbeing and the success of their work. Providing adequate mental health support requires we consider cultural factors as different Asian societies view mental health support in different, often negative ways.
Thus, culturally aligned alternatives should be explored to support peacebuilders' mental wellbeing. Furthermore, working in armed conflict contexts requires approaches beyond traditional psychology. Trauma-informed practices and collaboration with experts familiar with armed conflicts are necessary to meet the diverse needs of peace practitioners. By integrating specialized perspectives, we can create a supportive environment that prioritizes peacebuilders' mental health and wellbeing. This involves implementing culturally sensitive interventions, trauma-informed support, and collaboration with professionals experienced in armed conflict contexts. Prioritizing their mental health strengthens their resilience and effectiveness in promoting peace and stability in Asia.
As a grassroots peacebuilding practitioner, I have personally experienced various mental and emotional issues resulting from working in war-torn areas and facilitating dialogue sessions with internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Mindanao. Absorbing negative energies can disrupt inner peace and have adverse effects on mental health and overall well-being. The global pandemic has further complicated the work-life balance for peace workers, as online engagements at unusual times became the norm, encroaching on personal spaces. However, in the midst of isolation, fellow peace advocates started reaching out more, and I found myself conducting online listening and dialogue sessions, offering emotional support to those experiencing personal crises. Last year, Peace to Peacebuilders engaged with peacebuilders across Asia through listening and dialogue sessions that explored mental health issues experienced by the community and approaches to addressing those issues. For example, they highlighted the importance of managing stress and building resilience within the context of Asian traditions. The project challenges the perception that peace practitioners are always peaceful and impervious to anxiety, stress, and trauma. It presents key findings from interviews and consultations conducted in various countries, proposing strategies to strengthen practitioners’ resilience in crises.
Peacebuilder-Friendly Interventions
Peace practitioners emphasize the importance of developing culture-sensitive, gender-specific, and peacebuilder-friendly interventions to address mental health challenges. In addition, they emphasized the importance of building a supportive network of resilient peacebuilders. Creating clubs or groups centered around shared interests or coping mechanisms can provide safe and empathetic spaces. These clubs cultivate mutual support and foster a sense of camaraderie among peacebuilders. They highlighted the significance of having psychologists and therapists who possess a comprehensive understanding of the unique experiences faced by peacebuilders in conflict areas. By establishing safe spaces for dialogue and support peacebuilders are empowered to openly express their emotions and share their experiences. These dialogue sessions informed a comprehensive framework (PEACEFUL, below) for peacebuilders to better cope with their unique challenges and for mental health professions to provide more targeted support.
Prioritize your mental health. Recognize the importance of your mental health and wellbeing over your career. Embrace self-acceptance, foster forgiveness, cultivate self-love, practice self-care, and seek professional help when needed.
Embrace the practice of "mindful living and intentional rest." Liberating yourself from burnout involves mastering the art of relaxation and equipping yourself with mindfulness techniques. Integrate breaks into your routine, allowing time for meditation and yoga to nurture the wellbeing of your mind, body, and soul. Remember, moments of doing nothing can often spark remarkable breakthroughs.
Allow yourself to walk away from toxic people or situations. Empower yourself by setting healthy boundaries to protect yourself from ongoing drama, stress, and psychological trauma. Make self-care a priority by consciously choosing not to engage in arguments with individuals who are committed to misunderstanding you.
Cultivate good relationships. Develop and nurture personal and professional relationships. Establish a support system consisting of family, friends, and colleagues who can help you navigate tough times.
Empathy is key. Cultivate empathy within yourself to build resilience. Understanding others at a deeper level allows you to provide support during times of crisis.
Find time for "me time." Allocate time for activities you enjoy, regardless of external circumstances. Focus on healthy eating and regular exercise to enhance mood and confidence. Minimize distractions by uninstalling social media apps from your phone. Invest in personal growth by pursuing free online courses during breaks to acquire new knowledge and skills.
Unmindful action led to unforeseen challenges. Take the time to reflect when facing difficult situations. This provides a fresh perspective, allowing you to strategize and generate new ideas while reducing the risk of avoidable mistakes.
Learn to embrace transformative gratitude. By consciously shifting our perspective towards appreciation and acknowledging our blessings, we cultivate contentment and fulfillment. Gratitude opens our eyes to the beauty and abundance around us, fostering resilience and joy in challenging times. It empowers us to find solace, tap into resilience, and live a more meaningful life.
By practicing these self-care strategies, peacebuilders can nurture their physical, psychological, and spiritual wellbeing. This enables them to be effective, efficient, and peaceful in both their personal and professional lives. It is important to recognize that there is no universal intervention that can address all mental health issues. However, adopting peaceful approaches can greatly assist peace practitioners in navigating the complexities of everyday challenges and building resilience during crisis situations. By incorporating these strategies, peace workers can enhance their wellbeing and effectively cope with the demanding nature of their work. Ultimately, promoting mental health and resilience among peace practitioners is essential for sustainable peacebuilding efforts.
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How Peace Practitioners Can Better Cope with Crises
A Peace to Peacebuilders listening and dialogue session. Photo courtesy of Jamila-Aisha P. Sanguila.
June 15, 2023
Peacebuilding practioners in Asia are facing daunting new challenges in the past several years, with serious consequences for their mental wellbeing. A series of listening and dialogue sessions among practioners provides lessons for how practitioners can better cope, writes Jamila-Aisha Sanguila.
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ince 2020, peacebuilders in Asia have encountered significant challenges including political unrest, conflicts, climate change, natural disasters, and the pandemic. These obstacles hinder the development of effective peacebuilding programs, especially in conflict areas where the pandemic exacerbates tensions. Additionally, working in such environments can impact peacebuilders' mental health. Recognizing their unique challenges and addressing them is crucial for their wellbeing and the success of their work. Providing adequate mental health support requires we consider cultural factors as different Asian societies view mental health support in different, often negative ways.
Thus, culturally aligned alternatives should be explored to support peacebuilders' mental wellbeing. Furthermore, working in armed conflict contexts requires approaches beyond traditional psychology. Trauma-informed practices and collaboration with experts familiar with armed conflicts are necessary to meet the diverse needs of peace practitioners. By integrating specialized perspectives, we can create a supportive environment that prioritizes peacebuilders' mental health and wellbeing. This involves implementing culturally sensitive interventions, trauma-informed support, and collaboration with professionals experienced in armed conflict contexts. Prioritizing their mental health strengthens their resilience and effectiveness in promoting peace and stability in Asia.
As a grassroots peacebuilding practitioner, I have personally experienced various mental and emotional issues resulting from working in war-torn areas and facilitating dialogue sessions with internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Mindanao. Absorbing negative energies can disrupt inner peace and have adverse effects on mental health and overall well-being. The global pandemic has further complicated the work-life balance for peace workers, as online engagements at unusual times became the norm, encroaching on personal spaces. However, in the midst of isolation, fellow peace advocates started reaching out more, and I found myself conducting online listening and dialogue sessions, offering emotional support to those experiencing personal crises. Last year, Peace to Peacebuilders engaged with peacebuilders across Asia through listening and dialogue sessions that explored mental health issues experienced by the community and approaches to addressing those issues. For example, they highlighted the importance of managing stress and building resilience within the context of Asian traditions. The project challenges the perception that peace practitioners are always peaceful and impervious to anxiety, stress, and trauma. It presents key findings from interviews and consultations conducted in various countries, proposing strategies to strengthen practitioners’ resilience in crises.
Peacebuilder-Friendly Interventions
Peace practitioners emphasize the importance of developing culture-sensitive, gender-specific, and peacebuilder-friendly interventions to address mental health challenges. In addition, they emphasized the importance of building a supportive network of resilient peacebuilders. Creating clubs or groups centered around shared interests or coping mechanisms can provide safe and empathetic spaces. These clubs cultivate mutual support and foster a sense of camaraderie among peacebuilders. They highlighted the significance of having psychologists and therapists who possess a comprehensive understanding of the unique experiences faced by peacebuilders in conflict areas. By establishing safe spaces for dialogue and support peacebuilders are empowered to openly express their emotions and share their experiences. These dialogue sessions informed a comprehensive framework (PEACEFUL, below) for peacebuilders to better cope with their unique challenges and for mental health professions to provide more targeted support.
Prioritize your mental health. Recognize the importance of your mental health and wellbeing over your career. Embrace self-acceptance, foster forgiveness, cultivate self-love, practice self-care, and seek professional help when needed.
Embrace the practice of "mindful living and intentional rest." Liberating yourself from burnout involves mastering the art of relaxation and equipping yourself with mindfulness techniques. Integrate breaks into your routine, allowing time for meditation and yoga to nurture the wellbeing of your mind, body, and soul. Remember, moments of doing nothing can often spark remarkable breakthroughs.
Allow yourself to walk away from toxic people or situations. Empower yourself by setting healthy boundaries to protect yourself from ongoing drama, stress, and psychological trauma. Make self-care a priority by consciously choosing not to engage in arguments with individuals who are committed to misunderstanding you.
Cultivate good relationships. Develop and nurture personal and professional relationships. Establish a support system consisting of family, friends, and colleagues who can help you navigate tough times.
Empathy is key. Cultivate empathy within yourself to build resilience. Understanding others at a deeper level allows you to provide support during times of crisis.
Find time for "me time." Allocate time for activities you enjoy, regardless of external circumstances. Focus on healthy eating and regular exercise to enhance mood and confidence. Minimize distractions by uninstalling social media apps from your phone. Invest in personal growth by pursuing free online courses during breaks to acquire new knowledge and skills.
Unmindful action led to unforeseen challenges. Take the time to reflect when facing difficult situations. This provides a fresh perspective, allowing you to strategize and generate new ideas while reducing the risk of avoidable mistakes.
Learn to embrace transformative gratitude. By consciously shifting our perspective towards appreciation and acknowledging our blessings, we cultivate contentment and fulfillment. Gratitude opens our eyes to the beauty and abundance around us, fostering resilience and joy in challenging times. It empowers us to find solace, tap into resilience, and live a more meaningful life.
By practicing these self-care strategies, peacebuilders can nurture their physical, psychological, and spiritual wellbeing. This enables them to be effective, efficient, and peaceful in both their personal and professional lives. It is important to recognize that there is no universal intervention that can address all mental health issues. However, adopting peaceful approaches can greatly assist peace practitioners in navigating the complexities of everyday challenges and building resilience during crisis situations. By incorporating these strategies, peace workers can enhance their wellbeing and effectively cope with the demanding nature of their work. Ultimately, promoting mental health and resilience among peace practitioners is essential for sustainable peacebuilding efforts.
