Addressing mental health issues and trauma in Bougainville
From 31 March to 1 April 2025 PaCSIA facilitated the first cross-sector dialogue on mental health and trauma in Bougainville to bring together stakeholders from the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) and civil society to discuss the pressing issue of mental health and trauma stemming from the Bougainville Crisis and its impact on the Bougainville peace process. The dialogue was organised and facilitated by Dr David Tierney and Dr Serge Loode. After this dialogue, the acting Director of Public Health Lawrencia Kumis, organized and facilitated a second meeting (24th April 2025) with a sub-group from the 2-day dialogue and Dr David Tierney, to confirm the next step in addressing mental health and trauma.
We thank the ABG Departments of Independence Mission Implementation, Health, Legal Services, Education, Police and Corrective Services, Community Government and Community Development as well as the Nazareth Centre for Rehabilitation, Leitana Nehan Women’s Development Agency, Haku Women’s Collective, Bougainville Women’s Federation, Catholic Education and Catholic Health, SDA Health Services, Bougainville Disabled People’s Organisation and the Mabiri Juvenile Correctional Centre for sharing their knowledge and discussing the work of their services. The dialogue was attended by a total of 38 participants, including Ministers, Department Secretaries, senior public servants, prominent civil society organizations and observers from the Australia PNG Law Justice Partnership.
The two-day dialogue has paved the way for the implementation of the 2019 Bougainville Mental Health Policy and confirmed stakeholder interest in a collaborative cross-sector approach to building mental health capacity, which is grounded in custom, Christianity and best international practice. Dialogue participants confirmed their interest in ongoing support from Dr David Tierney and Dr Serge Loode, PaCSIA and its partners to support the next steps of the newly formed Coalition of Advocates for Mental Health (CAMH) in Bougainville.
