Mental Health and South Sudanese Children

​A nation's future is the young people, especially children. Children are expected to be groomed and taught the ways they are supposed to go and grow. It is expected for a nation's longevity, it must have structures and systems in place to ensure the well-being of its future. In the case of the current regime in South Sudan, they have created an environment that's not conducive to a child's development. As stated by Eiling et al. (2014), "South Sudanese children are the most vulnerable to conflicts, inter-tribal disputes, and ongoing civil wars" since they have been marginalized in Sudan under the Khartoum centralized government. For many years the health condition and development of children haven't changed. Continuous warfare and violence of all types have negatively affected the children, in particular their mental health. What a child sees, hears, feels, and experiences has a lifelong consequence and can become detrimental to their health and well-being if these traumas are not treated. 

The South Sudanese government is aware of the lack of development and safety for young children but does nothing to stop all violence and ongoing civil conflicts to bring peace into the country. The children of the poor, vulnerable and needy continue to be abused by the state through the negligence of their existence and the traumas inherited by them. Children are sick in more than one way, and the extreme neglect is creating a nation that will battle health crises that could have been prevented. According to Eiling et al. (2014), through psychosocial support, young children can repair their relationship with their community, family, friends and nation in the end to promote nonviolent solutions. 

From the plethora of problems facing the South Sudanese child, we can conclude that therapy of all types is needed to heal the young collectively. However, that therapy has to be culturally informed and delivered by qualified practitioners. Jordans et al. (2013) made it clear that trauma treatments or processing in South Sudan have to be specific and culturally sensitive to the target populations. What might work globally may not resonate in South Sudan. Taking into account culture, traditions, mannerisms, and complex history in mental health treatment would yield better results than a generalized blueprint that's not tuned to South Sudanese people. One of the treatments proposed for young children is psychotherapy administered through processes, and methodologies and delivered in a manner relevant to the child's cultural background. 

In conclusion, It is indeed true that South Sudanese children have years of unhealed and unprocessed traumas. But the only solution is using a child's culture, language, upbringing, different methodologies, and unique delivery methods that validate the child's identity and space in the world. Therapy should validate the child in their native surroundings without imposing ways, practices and ideologies that may not mesh well with the administered treatment. The last colonial frontier should be healthcare and how it is issued. The future of mental health will be tailored to each child to feel seen, heard, and validated in their healing. 

References: 

Eiling, E., Van Diggele-Holtland, M., Van Yperen, T., & Boer, F. (2014). Psychosocial support for children in the Republic of South Sudan: an evaluation outcome.Interv: J Mental Health Psychosocial Support Conflict Affected Area,12(1), 61-75.

Jordans, M. J. D., Komproe, I. H., Tol, W. A., Nsereko, J., & De Jong, J. T. V. M. (2013). Treatment processes of counseling for children in South Sudan: a multiple n= 1 design.Community mental health journal,49(3), 354-367.