Community-based mental health interventions for trauma recovery in resource-limited settings following civil unrest

This case report presents the treatment process and recovery of a man in his 30s who presented with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms as a result of and exacerbated by the ongoing violence following a period of civil unrest. The patient presented with extreme hypervigilance, intrusive thoughts, sleep disturbance and social withdrawal. Within a resource-poor community mental health context, the patient was provided with a treatment model that included psychoeducation, culturally sensitised cognitive-behavioural therapy, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor medication and community support. Adaptations to the standard PTSD care included an extended treatment duration, present-focused coping strategies to address chronic trauma and innovative medication management during supply shortages. Despite insecurity and stigma, the symptoms significantly reduced and the patient reported functional gains, including cofacilitating peer groups. This case describes the outcome of a task-shifted, culturally sensitive intervention in a conflict zone and a scalable model for trauma care amid resource constraints and ongoing unrest.