Transnational organized crime such as arms smuggling have facilitated the lethality, terror and audacity which banditry an organized violent crime is perpetrated. Banditry events pose a serious threat to human security especially in the areas of personal, economic, food and health security. Stress from conflicts, terrorism, economic hardship, increasing poverty and unemployment as well as violent crimes among other stressors worsen the low level of mental health in Nigeria. Scholarly attentions have majorly focused on the implications of banditry on socio-economic development, education and food security with little attention on mental health. This paper, examined the impact of banditry on mental health based on relevant related literature while life change event perspective served as the theoretical framework of the study. The paper highlights that banditry events such as loss of livelihood, rape, kidnapping and internal displacement of people, adversely affects the mental health of victims. Varying degrees of mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress are experienced by victims with short or long term consequences depending on the level of severity of events as well as the level of victims’ resilience. It is concluded that, banditry is a life change event that impact negatively on the mental health of individuals. It is recommended that, government intensify ongoing efforts to address banditry and adequate psychosocial help be provided continually by professionals, traditional and religious leaders to enable victims cope effectively.

错误:搜索内容不能为空,请输入英文关键词
错误:关键词超出字数限制,请精简
高级检索

Banditry and Human Security: Implications on Mental Health

  • Femi Rufus Tinuola,
  • Helen Anthony Ekpe

摘要

Transnational organized crime such as arms smuggling have facilitated the lethality, terror and audacity which banditry an organized violent crime is perpetrated. Banditry events pose a serious threat to human security especially in the areas of personal, economic, food and health security. Stress from conflicts, terrorism, economic hardship, increasing poverty and unemployment as well as violent crimes among other stressors worsen the low level of mental health in Nigeria. Scholarly attentions have majorly focused on the implications of banditry on socio-economic development, education and food security with little attention on mental health. This paper, examined the impact of banditry on mental health based on relevant related literature while life change event perspective served as the theoretical framework of the study. The paper highlights that banditry events such as loss of livelihood, rape, kidnapping and internal displacement of people, adversely affects the mental health of victims. Varying degrees of mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress are experienced by victims with short or long term consequences depending on the level of severity of events as well as the level of victims’ resilience. It is concluded that, banditry is a life change event that impact negatively on the mental health of individuals. It is recommended that, government intensify ongoing efforts to address banditry and adequate psychosocial help be provided continually by professionals, traditional and religious leaders to enable victims cope effectively.