Introduction
Humanitarian crises are impacting the globalized world through the interwoven web of economic, political, and social spheres. Just a drop of water causes a ripple in a pond. Many of these disasters apply strain not only to world politics or the global economy, but impact massive populations. International agencies and organizations such as the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and the Red Cross play strong roles in global humanitarian relief efforts. Complex in nature, disasters are challenging to define within an international context. The UN offers a broad and the most appropriate definition of disaster as, “a serious disruption of the function of a society, causing widespread human, material, or environment losses which exceed the capacity of the affected society to cope using only its own resources” (as cited in Barron, 2004, p. 505). The widespread loss due to disruptions such as natural disasters or war, suggests widespread suffering within a society’s population, often referred to as trauma (Hobfoll et al, 2007). Another issue complex in nature, definitions of trauma are varied. The definition selected for the purpose of this integrative literature review, “states that an event is traumatic if it is extremely upsetting and at least temporarily overwhelms the individual’s inner resources" (Telles, Singh, & Balkrishna, 2012, p. 1).
Natural disasters are gaining prevalence in the period of ecological crisis and climate change, often impacting the global south; and rising conflict and war zones remain pressing issues compounded with the global economic crisis, food shortages, and pressure for control of natural resources. With surges in these ‘serious disruptions’, there is escalating concern for the mental health of traumatized societies. Consultants to international agencies “have portrayed war as a mental health emergency…with claims that there was an epidemic of ‘post-traumatic stress (PTSD)’ to be treated” (Summerfield, 1999, p. 1460), imparting the impetus to bring mental health to the forefront of strategies applied to humanitarian efforts.
Only in recent years has the conversation about mental health been incorporated into UN and WHO goals as the implications on social development are recognized. As the international community re-orients their strategies and practices, much discrepancy and controversy surrounds the nature of appropriate mental health interventions in humanitarian emergencies.
Therefore,
…this integrative literature review aims to investigate the practice method of yoga to manage post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for populations resulting from a traumatic event or on going events.
Reasons for exploring this topic
There is a close connection between mental health (social welfare) and an “individual’s capacity to work productively, realize their potential and make a contribution to their community. On the other hand, positive mental health is linked to a range of development outcomes, including productivity and earnings, better employment, [and] higher education achievement…” (as cited in World Health Organization, 2010, p. 1). As a yoga practitioner who can personally speak to the practice contributing to the enhancement of my mental health and improving my social welfare. I am interested in exploring yoga as a practice method within humanitarian relief situations where the experience of traumatic events can evoke symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. I first learned of yoga being accessed in Rwanda by women who are survivors of the genocide. A local founder established the organization, Project Air which is presently funded by UNICEF. This initiative is discussed within the Globalization tab. Yoga applied as a tool for survivors of a natural disaster or ongoing violent conflict is an emerging field, especially within the international development sphere.
I hope to gain further insight in the consideration of cultural relevance and appropriateness in diverse international contexts. Yoga, “considered as therapeutic, reveals contemporary ways of producing global practices” (Hoyez, 2007, p. 112) and I am interested in investigating the scope of yoga as a development theory within India, a bottom up approach, that now spans across borders.
Can the practice method of yoga cross the borders of refugee camps to contribute to social welfare?
Can the practice method of yoga cross into zones of conflict?
In addition, I hope to explore the considerations, critiques and outcomes of mental health interventions presently being applied by international relief agencies and how they contribute or deter social welfare.
Humanitarian crises are impacting the globalized world through the interwoven web of economic, political, and social spheres. Just a drop of water causes a ripple in a pond. Many of these disasters apply strain not only to world politics or the global economy, but impact massive populations. International agencies and organizations such as the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and the Red Cross play strong roles in global humanitarian relief efforts. Complex in nature, disasters are challenging to define within an international context. The UN offers a broad and the most appropriate definition of disaster as, “a serious disruption of the function of a society, causing widespread human, material, or environment losses which exceed the capacity of the affected society to cope using only its own resources” (as cited in Barron, 2004, p. 505). The widespread loss due to disruptions such as natural disasters or war, suggests widespread suffering within a society’s population, often referred to as trauma (Hobfoll et al, 2007). Another issue complex in nature, definitions of trauma are varied. The definition selected for the purpose of this integrative literature review, “states that an event is traumatic if it is extremely upsetting and at least temporarily overwhelms the individual’s inner resources" (Telles, Singh, & Balkrishna, 2012, p. 1).
Natural disasters are gaining prevalence in the period of ecological crisis and climate change, often impacting the global south; and rising conflict and war zones remain pressing issues compounded with the global economic crisis, food shortages, and pressure for control of natural resources. With surges in these ‘serious disruptions’, there is escalating concern for the mental health of traumatized societies. Consultants to international agencies “have portrayed war as a mental health emergency…with claims that there was an epidemic of ‘post-traumatic stress (PTSD)’ to be treated” (Summerfield, 1999, p. 1460), imparting the impetus to bring mental health to the forefront of strategies applied to humanitarian efforts.
Only in recent years has the conversation about mental health been incorporated into UN and WHO goals as the implications on social development are recognized. As the international community re-orients their strategies and practices, much discrepancy and controversy surrounds the nature of appropriate mental health interventions in humanitarian emergencies.
Therefore,
…this integrative literature review aims to investigate the practice method of yoga to manage post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for populations resulting from a traumatic event or on going events.
Reasons for exploring this topic
There is a close connection between mental health (social welfare) and an “individual’s capacity to work productively, realize their potential and make a contribution to their community. On the other hand, positive mental health is linked to a range of development outcomes, including productivity and earnings, better employment, [and] higher education achievement…” (as cited in World Health Organization, 2010, p. 1). As a yoga practitioner who can personally speak to the practice contributing to the enhancement of my mental health and improving my social welfare. I am interested in exploring yoga as a practice method within humanitarian relief situations where the experience of traumatic events can evoke symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. I first learned of yoga being accessed in Rwanda by women who are survivors of the genocide. A local founder established the organization, Project Air which is presently funded by UNICEF. This initiative is discussed within the Globalization tab. Yoga applied as a tool for survivors of a natural disaster or ongoing violent conflict is an emerging field, especially within the international development sphere.
I hope to gain further insight in the consideration of cultural relevance and appropriateness in diverse international contexts. Yoga, “considered as therapeutic, reveals contemporary ways of producing global practices” (Hoyez, 2007, p. 112) and I am interested in investigating the scope of yoga as a development theory within India, a bottom up approach, that now spans across borders.
Can the practice method of yoga cross the borders of refugee camps to contribute to social welfare?
Can the practice method of yoga cross into zones of conflict?
In addition, I hope to explore the considerations, critiques and outcomes of mental health interventions presently being applied by international relief agencies and how they contribute or deter social welfare.