1285 – Training of bosnia-herzegovina mental health professionals in group analysis as the factor of development of culture of dialogue in the aftermath ofthe 1992–1995 war

Abstract

Aim The primary objective will focus the first of all on Group Analysis (GA) as the psychotherapy method and theory of group analysis applied particularly in post-war environments. It outlines in particular a Zagreb Institute for GA Training Programme that took place in Tuzla University Clinical Centre, Department of Psychiatry, in Bosnia-Herzegovina (BH) in response to 1992–1995 war, in helping to train mental health workers in GA to enable them to treat psychological trauma symptoms of war survivors. Method In the GA education in the period of 16 years mental health professionals employed in mental health services were involved as well as other care employees as General Practitioners, Family physicians, pediatricians, gynecologists and neurosurgeons, psychologists and special educators. Results Trainees in education were from greater part of BH, and from several towns from neighborhoods countries. In this way a new room for mutual exchanges of experiences and establishing of cooperation was created. Idea of group analytic treatment of persons with mental health problems spread out on the whole region of BH through this model of education. The future of GA application as a psychotherapy model in BH confirmed through established models of education which are employed inowadays in Tuzla, Sarajevo and Mostar. The future of GA is provided in activities focused on foundations of the Institute for Analysis in Tuzla. Conclusion Training of Bosnia-Herzegovina mental health workers to effectively use GA with enthusiastic help of GA trainers from Institute for GA Zagreb will develop dialogue culture in postwar BH.