The experience of people with psychosocial disabilities of living independently and being included in the community in war-affected settings: A review of the literature

Community integration, quality of life, thriving, and mental health among refugees and asylum seekers. A London service provider perspective

“…In order for any of these recommendations to have their intended positive effects on integration, quality of life, thriving, and mental health among asylum seekers and refugees, they need to be grounded in a participatory approach. That is, assessments of needs, development of meaningful and diverse support mechanisms, and monitoring and evaluation of such supports must involve various stakeholders, including asylum seekers and refugees, communities hosting them, employers and educators, housing associations, social workers, health providers, and policy makers among others ( 35 ). Inspired by principles of participatory action research, such inclusive working should be based on (1) social change to enable action that leads to systemic, social, and behavioral changes; (2) participation that ensures that the agenda is driven by those who have a stake in the issue; (3) power of knowledge whereby knowledge is carefully and purposefully produced with diverse stakeholders; and (4) collaboration by expanding the emphasis from action and change to collaborative policy making and service provision starting with program planning and including implementation and evaluation ( 36 ).…”

The ambiguities of social inclusion in mental health: learning from lived experience of serious mental illness in Ghana and the occupied Palestinian territory

“…A practise-based review in India, Nepal, and Afghanistan stressed the importance of strengthening the voices of people with psychosocial disability; understanding the socio-cultural context; recognising the role of the family; promoting grassroots collective action, strengthening public health systems and policy development, and promoting linkages between people with lived experience and affected communities to inform organisational actions [ 12 ]. Increasingly, there are calls for such intersectoral ‘whole of society’ approaches to mental health [ 1 , 13 , 73 ]. Kienzler and colleagues argue that “meaningful and diverse support mechanisms, and monitoring and evaluation of such support must be participatory involving various stakeholders, including persons with psychosocial disabilities and their families, the general public, employers, social workers, health providers, and policy makers” [ 13 ] (p. 17).…”

“…Concepts often focus on the physical environment and functional abilities, whilst excluding social and political dimensions [ 11 ]. Only limited consideration has been given to the meanings of social inclusion within different socio-cultural settings and the ways in which it is envisioned, negotiated, and practised in the day-to-day experience of people living with mental illness and their families [ 8 , 12 , 13 ]. Further, there is little research on the perspectives of people with psychosocial disabilities, particularly outside high-income settings, and in conflict and war-affected settings [ 13 ].…”

“…Only limited consideration has been given to the meanings of social inclusion within different socio-cultural settings and the ways in which it is envisioned, negotiated, and practised in the day-to-day experience of people living with mental illness and their families [ 8 , 12 , 13 ]. Further, there is little research on the perspectives of people with psychosocial disabilities, particularly outside high-income settings, and in conflict and war-affected settings [ 13 ]. Our research begins to address this gap through ethnographic research with people living with serious mental illness and family caregivers in Ghana and the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), both signatories to the UN CRPD.…”

Quality of life between the hammer and the anvil: Challenges of living with a disability in areas of protracted political conflict

“…The UNCRPD outlines the obligation of states to protect persons with disabilities and ensure their safety in situations of risk, including armed conflicts (United Nations, 2006), yet several studies have shown that, in practice, persons with disabilities are negatively impacted in terms of their ability to comprehend situations of impending danger and flee or seek shelter if necessary (Battle, 2015; Blaser, 2002; Mutabazi, 1998). A recent review demonstrated that in times of armed conflict, in addition to human rights being overlooked, policy achievements are pushed aside and negative social attitudes, including discrimination, isolation, and stigmatization, resurface (Kienzler et al, 2022). Social and cultural norms that devalue the lives of persons with disabilities may lead to their de‐prioritization in humanitarian settings, resulting in harmful and neglectful nutritional and health‐seeking practices (Sherwood & Pearce, 2016).…”