Capacities for the transformation of conflicts into survivors of anti-personal mines: a view from mental health

Abstract

The armed conflict in Colombia has led to multiple victimizing incidents among the civilian population, particularly accidents involving anti-personnel mines, which have long term physical, psychological and social consequences. The objective of the study is to describe the conflict transformation capacities of anti-personnel mine survivors in social and family contexts. The research design is transversal with a descriptive scope and qualitative approach. The population studied was an Association of Victims of Antipersonnel Mines residents in Cucuta City. In the selection of the participants, 19 in total, the snowball methodology was used, determining the participation of 7 victims, 9 children of the victims and 3 professionals for victim care. Semi-structured interviews with victims and professionals were used to collect the data, and the construction of life stories was used in the children of the victims. The results were subjected to triangulation by participants and techniques, after content analysis by axial categories. The study concludes that the family system becomes the fundamental support for confronting with the victimizing event. Likewise, the capacities for the transformation of conflicts achieved in survivors at the family level are: communication, adaptation and support network; in the social sphere: leadership, social participation, management tools, potentiating aspects of mental health and quality of life that allow overcoming social difficulties in everyday life.