Articles authored by Lira, Elizabeth

Feedback

Dr Elizabeth Lira, Director of the Instituto Latinoamericano de Salud Mental y Derechos Humanos (the Latin American Institute for Mental Health and Human Rights) responds to articles by Linda Agerbak and Derek Summerfield, drawing on her extensive experience of working with the victims of trauma and political repression.

Viewpoint

The author gives a personal view of her experiences in Guatemala in 1995, when she met with human-rights workers coping with the aftermath, and ongoing trauma, of the 36-year war. She describes the fear and disruption brought about by so many years of military violence and repression, and the processes which it is hoped can help rehabilitate affected communities, particularly focussing on the psychosocial implications of giving people the chance to talk about, and learn the truth about, their experiences.