Humanitarian

^{Humanitarian support and conflict}

^{One of the original core aims of the NICTT Trust was to support other communities affected by conflict and to assist policy makers and commissioners of services prepare for and respond to the mental health consequences of war and conflict.  For example from 2002 until 2011 the NICTT Centre shared its practice with several organisations from across the world including the staff health and welfare departments of the Fire, Police and Port Authorities in New York after 9/11, mental health professionals in Sarajevo, mental health practitioners and community based organisations in Sri Lanka, and a two year psycho-social health and well being programme with community educators in rural Nepal.  In 2004 NICTT developed an international trauma network with trauma practitioners from seven countries. Other international initiatives include workshops and policy development on post-catastrophe mental health (see our Research and Published Papers page).}

^{The NICTT Trustees remain committed to supporting humanitarian efforts to assist other communities affected by conflict, by sharing its experiences in:}

^{·        Establishing a specialist trauma centre to address the mental health consequences of conflict;}

^{·        Providing specialist trauma focused cognitive therapy programmes for people affected by conflict related traumatic experiences;}

^{·        Delivering in partnership with NGO’s trauma-focussed psycho-education programmes in other communities affected by conflict;}

^{·        Developing trauma focused training programmes relevant to local needs and resources;}

^{·        Undertaking research, audit and evaluation of needs and service outcomes;}

^{·        Informing and influencing trauma related policy and strategies for communities affected by conflict.}

^{The NICTT Trust can advise and support funders, governments, international and regional authorities, service commissioners, providers and professional bodies, seeking to address the mental health consequences of conflict, on post conflict trauma related strategies, policies, services, training development and establishing trauma services.  The Trust’s experiences will also be relevant to organisations seeking to develop evaluation frameworks and processes for the evaluation of trauma related programmes.}

^{The traumatic consequences of conflict pose a challenge for peace and associated political processes.  The NICTT Trust’s experience of establishing and delivering services in response to the civil conflict in Northern Ireland will be of relevance to others facing the challenge of developing effective policy and services as part of peace agreements and political arrangements.}