The impact of peacebuilding public programmes on mental health of victims of the conflict: the case of Colombia

War and conflict have been identified as one of the key
drivers of mental disorders in low-and-middle-income
countries. Despite extensive research on the impact of
conflict, few studies have attempted to understand how
initiatives to build peace and end conflict contribute to the
mental health of populations affected by war. This project
aims to address this gap.
Colombia, one of the largest countries in South America,
endured a civil conflict that lasted more than 50 years and
left over nine million people registered as victims. The case
of Colombia is a unique opportunity to study the effects of
peacebuilding interventions on mental health. The specific
objectives of this study are 1) To examine whether it is
possible, through a major psychological programme, to
address the mental health consequences of war on victims
of the conflict; and 2) To determine if a programme that
reduces poverty by increasing opportunities for education
and employment improve the mental health of young
people in conflict-affected areas.
To address both objectives, I will use several health
surveys and longitudinal data that have not been explored
yet and analyse them using quasi-experimental techniques.
Sustainable peace is difficult to achieve if there is no
psychosocial well-being. Thus, informing if and how
peacebuilding policies contribute to promoting mental
health is key for all peacebuilding efforts