In the lead up to UN Peacebuilding Week next week, our colleagues and partners examine why mental health and psychosocial support is critical.

Why mental health and psychosocial support matter for sustainable peace 

As peacebuilding actors confront increasingly complex and protracted crises, there is growing recognition that sustainable peace depends not only on political agreements and institutional reforms, but also on addressing the psychological and social impacts of conflict. Experiences of violence, displacement and loss shape how people perceive threats, build trust and engage with others, making mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) an essential part of conflict transformation and reconciliation.

During UN Peacebuilding Week in New York next week, we will join international partners, including the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to explore the role of MHPSS in peacebuilding and prevention. The discussion will examine why trauma-informed approaches are critical to dialogue, mediation and long-term peace processes, and how rebuilding trust and resilience can support more sustainable peace.

Ahead of the event, our MHPSS Advisor Stefanie Gaumert reflects on the importance of integrating psychosocial perspectives into peace practice. You can read her blog here.

You can also hear firsthand reflections from partners in Lebanon, Yemen and Somalia on why MHPSS matters in contexts affected by conflict and crisis.

Our colleague from Beirut Jana Sleem emphasises the importance of integrating MHPSS into peacebuilding efforts. She also highlights our work in Lebanon, where insider mediators are helping communities navigate displacement, uncertainty and rising tensions by creating space for trust, dialogue and dignity. 

Rowda Olad, Executive Director of Maandeeq Mental Health in Somalia, reminds us in her message that unresolved trauma can fuel mistrust, violence and division, while healing helps create the conditions for reconciliation, resilience and lasting peace.

Dr. Bilqis Jubari, Chairwoman and Founder of Family Counseling and Development Foundation (FCDF) in Yemen, shares that peace cannot emerge where psychological wounds remain unhealed. Through FCDF’s work, more than 380,000 Yemenis have accessed trauma-informed mental health and psychosocial support, helping restore trust and strengthen communities.

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