Cambodia's hidden scars: trauma psychology in the wake of the Khmer Rouge: an edited volume on Cambodia's mental health.
Role
Beth Van Schaack (Editor)
Daryn Reicherter (Editor)
Youk Chhang (Editor)
Autumn Talbott (Editor)
Files
Description
The Khmer Rouge Standing Committee aimed to ensure compliance and eliminate dissent by oppressing the people through psychological dominance. The defilement of Khmer religion, Khmer art, Khmer familiar relations, and the Khmer social class structure undermined deeply-held societal assumptions. The Khmer Rouge also destabilized the mass psychology that was secure in those realities. Cambodia's psychology was thus altered in damaging and enduring ways. In societies that experience war and genocide, trauma significantly impacts the people's psychology. The ripple effects of this damage are often incalculable. There are well-established statistics demonstrating a higher prevalence of trauma-related mental health disorders in post-conflict societies. this book considers the mental health implications of the Khmer Rouge era among the Cambodia populace. Specialists in trauma mental health discuss the increased rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depression, among other major mental health disorders, in the country. They also discusses the staggering burden of such a high prevalence of societal mental illness on a post-conflict society. Legal experts discuss the way in which the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia can better accommodate victims and witnesses who are traumatized to avoid re-traumatization and to ensure a meaningful experience with justice. The text also offers a set of recommendations for addressing the widespread mental health issues within the society.
ISBN
978-9995060220
Publication Date
2011
Publisher
Documentation Center of Cambodia
Disciplines
African Languages and Societies | Multicultural Psychology | Psychology
Recommended Citation
Van Schaack, Beth; Reicherter, Daryn; Chhang, Youk; and Talbott, Autumn, "Cambodia's hidden scars: trauma psychology in the wake of the Khmer Rouge: an edited volume on Cambodia's mental health." (2011). Faculty Book Gallery. 157.
https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/faculty_books/157