War, trauma, and adolescent mental health in northern Uganda

Civil war has displaced an estimated 1.5 million people in northern Uganda, 80% of whom are women and children. The United Nations has reported widespread atrocities and regards the situation as a humanitarian emergency. An in-depth study was conducted in Gulu, Uganda to determine how traumas experienced by adolescents during the war have affected their mental health. We recruited and interviewed 47 participants from three local schools to assess both type and number of traumatic events experienced and current mental health functioning. Preliminary results indicate high incidence of trauma, particularly sexual abuse, as well as high rates of mental health morbidities, especially general anxiety disorder. However, we also found considerable levels of post-traumatic growth and evidence of resiliency among some of the most traumatized adolescents. Further analysis of these positive deviants- those who have displayed positive emotional growth in the face of such horrors- will be valuable in developing psychosocial support programs for war-affected youth.