Integrating MHPSS and Peacebuilding: A Critical and Constructive Perspective from the Integrated Field of Psychosocial Peacebuilding

Recent years have seen a surge in awareness of the importance to integrate Mental Health, Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) and Peacebuilding (PB). This article examines how the conceptual frameworks and practical implementation experience of psychosocial peacebuilding relate to the current integration efforts of MHPSS and Peacebuilding. It identifies a range of challenges often present in integration efforts, as well as insights, frameworks and experience from the field of psychosocial peacebuilding which could address these. This article proposes to peacebuilding practitioners, policy-makers and donors to put more attention on strengthening integrated approaches that already exist, rather than focusing most attention on merging what is - at the moment - far from integrated. It emphasizes that sustainable integration of integrated approaches into peacebuilding policy, practice and theory, as well as improved impact of integrated peacebuilding work, will be developed from the way we as peacebuilders connect and integrate inside ourselves and our teams.