Using Canada and Ukraine as examples, this article asserts the importance of moving beyond addressing posttraumatic stress disorder as the major mental health focus in peacebuilding, to a more global whole health strategy as a way of building resilience in communities, preparing them better to deal with conficts of different kinds, and generally providing habitus for people of all health and abilities to thrive. Authors who are academics, mental health service users and service providers examine current barriers to and movements toward mental health and wellness in their countries. Using a needs-based approach, authors assert the importance of using the social determinants of health, understanding engaged community membership requires good, supportive mental health. The social determinants of health provide the basis to move from a reactive medical model of health which seems prevelant globally to focus on proactive community, considering what it means to be a community member, including the importance of individual empowerment not only for their own community engagement but also for the actualization and development of their communities and the wider world.

This article asserts the importance of directing the attention of the global community not only on treatment, but also on a holistic view of health and health care services that will make it impossible for any individual to believe that they are not worthy of every consideration and support to be fully functioning, empowered community members. Authors call upon psychologists, social workers and other professionals interested in peacebuilding to refocus, not away from trauma recovery, but more broadly to whole health for all communities