In 2008, six years after the conclusion of an 11-year civil war in Sierra Leone, many development partners declared the “emergency” post-conflict phase over, and left Sierra Leone.  Sahr Bangura, a former child soldier, is alone, angry, not fully integrated into his community, and uncertain of where to go for help.  The country’s mental health system remains vastly underdeveloped, with one psychiatrist and one mental hospital located in the capital city of Freetown.  This case documents the availability of mental health services for patients like Sahr Bangura and their struggle to find help when international partners have left.

Erin Sullivan, PhD, Research Associate at the Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights and GHD, will present a case discussion: Mental Health and Psychosocial Services for Children and Youth in Post-conflict Sierra Leone by Sandra Zaeh, Erin Sullivan, and Theresa Betancourt.

THURSDAY, DEC. 3
3:45 – 5:15 PM
TMEC 227
2nd Floor, Harvard Medical School,
260 Longwood / TMEC
*Open to Longwood Medical affiliates and students*