Daya Somasundaram
Individuals, families, and communities in Sri Lanka, particularly in the North and East, have undergone 30 years of war trauma including displacement, injury, detention, torture, and the loss of family, homes, employment, and livelihoods. In addition to the increase in individual mental health problems, the protracted conflict has had a significant impact on family dynamics and community structures.
Our studies found dysfunctional families with a higher proportion of members with suicidal thoughts, mental health issues, alcohol and drug abuse, poor income, lack of essential facilities & dissatisfaction with family life. Over the course of the war, social capital had eroded; collective efficacy & institutional trust had weakened.
Other adverse consequences included increased suicide and attempted suicide rates; Gender Based Violence (GBV); child abuse; indebtedness; multiple partners, youth antisocial behavior, high use of illicit drugs (86%) and alcohol (84%), family problems (36%), unemployment (32%) and financial problems (26%); villages scored very low in structural social capital. The observed social capital changes, dysfunctional family units, negative changes in the functional dynamics of the community, and high prevalence of individual level effects was termed collective trauma.
Subsequently, communities were impacted by the COVID epidemic and then, a national financial crisis. Many children grow up in dysfunctional families. Often homes are shaped by alcohol and drug abuse—where fear, confusion, conflict, violence, abuse, poverty and hunger become part of everyday life. Majority of adult males in most rural areas ( less in cities and towns) consume alcohol. Alcohol Rates are more in some strata ( lower socioeconomic), religions and occupations (daily labour, fishing) than others. Some use alcohol as a form of self-medication to reduce the impact of past war trauma, daily stresses, family problems, pain, physical diseases, personal and social inhibitions and then become dependent. In those who consume alcohol many drink heavily on a daily basis, problem or harmful drinking to a level of dependence or addiction so much so that they cannot be without it,
developing withdrawal symptoms like tremors, shakes, sweating and intense desire, craving if they don’t take their daily quota on time. Younger males and youth use and abuse drugs.
The economic, physical, mental, family and social consequences are dire. Children grow up thinking and feeling this is normal life. They will inevitably repeat the cycle; in turn their children will repeat the cycle.
In an effort at breaking this cycle, at Thapovanam, we are committed to nurturing young minds in an eco-friendly environment and practices through arts, music, drawing, drama, yoga, meditation, home gardening, swimming, traditional games, karate and martial arts, play and nutritious meals, supporting both their physical well-being, mental development, cultural, social and spiritual enrichment.
Children find safe ways to express what they cannot say out loud. Through stories and characters, they release emotions, rebuild confidence, and begin to feel a sense of control over their lives. They are learning that their story does not have to end where it began. This is more than drama. This is healing, hope, enrichment, building character, inner strength, a capacity to take informed, healthy decisions, a new beginning.
1. 1 Thamotharampillai U, Perera R, Wickremasinghe R, Williams S, Vijayasangar T, Sivatharsan B, Hilbert V, Somasundaram D. Collective Trauma- Psychosocial consequences of war in northern SriLanka 10 years on, a mixed methods study, SSM – Mental Health, Volume 8, 2025, 100457, ISSN 2666-5603,………………………………… https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmmh.2025.100457
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666560325000696)