The influences of basic needs, social support and migration on mental health in South Sudan

Completed in South Sudan the research comprised people who remained in-country throughout the civil war and those who were displaced but recently returned. Access to basic needs was associated with lower stress, depression and anxiety. Women experienced poorer mental health than men. There were no differences between the two groups. Qualitative findings confirmed that access to basic needs was the greatest concern for people, deeming it more important to their mental health than traumatic war experiences. As expected, daily stressors were mediating the relationship between war exposure and mental health - an important finding for psychological practice in humanitarian responses.