Improvement of Mental Health and Cooperation Skills: Curriculum for Peacekeeping Personnel

Abstract

Preparation for work in the field of peacebuilding should always be undertaken from multiple perspectives, as actions and their consequences are bound to bring about changes in many aspects, such as mental health and competences of staff responsible for peacekeeping. The general aim of the presented article is to underline the role of psychological skills necessary for high level functioning of peacemakers and peacekeepers in various countries. The presented program covers two fundamental training areas: keeping good mental health and developing cooperation skills. The main focus was placed on the way to identify barriers and challenges faced by organizers of the process of preparing and building competencies in the scope of conflict prevention, protection of own resources (health protection area) and group resources (social capital area). An important aspect of raising the competencies of staff engaged in building and maintaining peace is the ability to control emotions and to counteract pathological reactions connected with working under prolonged stress caused, for instance, by changing one’s place of stay, encounters with strangers and hostile persons, huge pressure and responsibility.