8 Oct 2014

Those traumatised by Bougainville civil war need help, says Minister

9:20 pm on 8 October 2014

The health minister of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea, says mental health specialists are needed in the autonomous region to help meet the needs of those still traumatised by the civil war.

Rose Pihei says social disorder in Bougainville is mostly connected to the trauma people went through during the crisis more than a decade ago, but that trauma has never been dealt with and is becoming a generational issue.

An aerial view of Arawa, Bougainville

An aerial view of Arawa, Bougainville Photo: RNZI

The minister says there is very little being done to address the issue, and only one organisation in the whole Bougainville region has the skills to treat mental health issues.

"It's becoming a real burden on that organisation, and that's why we will be needing specialist doctors to come in and aid us help, very little attention has been given to the whole region concerning mental health."

Rose Pihei says she wants trauma and mental health issues to be key issues that both the national government and the Autonomous Bougainville Government work to combat.