4.7. Psychosocial assistance
As noted above, the demobilized did not receive any counselling
or assistance prior to, during, or following the demobilization apart from that
provided through individual interviews at the Information and Referral
Service.4 In addition, staff working with the demobilized and other
war-affected populations did not have adequate skills to recognize and cope with
their own and others' stress-related problems. The training of trainers should
at least enable the identification of those with acute psychological problems
and should inform the trainers of the appropriate action to take. It is not
suggested, however, that they become psychological counsellors.
4 Bryant, op. cit., p. 33.
Training social workers on home visiting methodologies has been
implemented by the Ministry of Social Welfare with the technical assistance of
UNICEF. A training module on trauma counselling adapted to the needs of social
workers has been prepared by the Psychotrauma Institute and will be used in the
training curriculum of social workers. During visits to the children,
information on additional needs (e.g. counselling, vocational training,
education) is collected and centralized provincially and nationally for further
intervention. According to UNICEF, at least 2,000 children are regularly visited
by social workers country-wide.1
1 UNICEF, Assistance to ex-child
soldiers in Mozambique, September 1993 to October 1996, UNICEF report,
Maputo, undated, p.
6.
