After the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina, mental illness is very prevalent. With little knowledge about mental health, the stigma of mental illness is still pervasive in many communities. To combat this prejudice, we describe mental health promotion strategies which can empower individuals and educate the communities in which they live.

Mental health is not considered only as absence of mental disorders, but rather as the achievement of higher standards of available psychical potentials. True devotion and obedience to The God give the one a huge and incredible strength, constant source of spiritual emotional and moral energy, which is of help in resisting destructive and slavery attacks of the environment and its materialistic-consuming tendencies, as well as social and mental disruption. According to the opinion of numerous worldwide recognized mental health experts, humankind of today is confronted with a number of problems, which are the consequence of spiritual and moral-ethical degradation of human being. Therefore, religiosity became the field of interest of mental health researchers. The results of new studies undoubtedly indicate beneficial effects of religion on life and mental health in humans. Religiosity reduces tendencies for risky behaviour, impulsive reactions and aggression; it corrects tendencies towards psychopathic and paranoid behaviour, reduces converse, depressive and schizoid tendency, and provides successful overcome of emotional conflicts. In comparison to low-religious adolescents, the factors such as inner conflicts, frustration, fear, anxiety, psychological trauma, low self-esteem, unbalance of psychical homeostasis, emotional instability, and negative psychical energy are less present in highly religious adolescents and neutralized in a healthier and more efficient way. Beneficial impact of religion on mental health derives from precise cognitive-behavioural patterns, which provide a clear life orientation, solid basis and safe frames for personality development, assuring human to be continually on the way to achieve its own generic essence and reach its own maturity and self-actualization.

AIM To estimate the frequency, type, and severity of psychological trauma among Bosnian refugee adolescents during the process of repatriation after the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. METHODS A sample of 239 pupils (120 girls and 119 boys), with a mean age (+/-standard deviation) of 15.2+/-2.1 years were assessed for war traumatic events, acculturation and repatriation maladjustments, school behavioral problems, and presence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The sample consisted of adolescents who were in the process of repatriation after exile in a foreign country (n=120) and internally displaced adolescents (n=119). RESULTS Adolescents who had been exposed to severe psychological war trauma still had high level of trauma more than three years after the end of war. The level of recalling traumas they experienced (mean+/-standard deviation=3.9+/-1.2 on a scale from 0 to 5) and frequency of PTSD symptoms (1.5+/-1.0 on a scale from 0-5) were significantly lower among repatriated than internally displaced adolescents (4.4+/-0.7 and 2.2+/-1.1, respectively; P<0.001). The prevalence of PTSD did not differ between repatriated (56.7%) and internally displaced adolescents (68.1%). Returnees with more acculturation problems reported more functional and relational problems after return but less psycho-emotional dysfunctions. Those who adapted to the culture in the exile country had difficulties in adapting back to the culture in the home country. CONCLUSIONS PTSD was still very frequent among Bosnian refugee adolescents 3.5 years after the end of war. Adolescents who had spent more than five years as refugees in foreign countries had significantly lower level of experienced trauma recall and frequency of PTSD symptoms, as well as less anxious/depressed and withdrawn/depressed behavioral problems, and somatic complaints. Returnees who had more acculturation problems in exile reported more functional and relational problems but less psycho-emotional problems after repatriation. Schools and other institutions involved in the education of adolescents should develop programs to address these issues.

BACKGROUND The traumatic events experienced by thousands of people in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the 1992-1995 conflict may have a lasting effect on the mental health of the country, characterized by high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A diagnosis of PTSD among family physicians could affect their ability to diagnose and treat patients for depression, anxiety and PTSD. OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of PTSD among family medicine physicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina. METHODS A self-administered questionnaire, including the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C) which is a validated scale for PTSD screening, was distributed to family medicine residents and specialists in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The prevalence of PTSD was determined, and factors related to PTSD were considered. RESULTS One hundred and thirty-three (90.5%) of the 147 physicians who were available to be surveyed completed the questionnaire. Of the 88% who had a traumatic experience during the war, 18% met the criteria for PTSD. The likelihood of meeting the criteria for PTSD was not affected by age, sex or whether the physician had worked in a field hospital during the war. However, a positive response to the question "Do you think the traumatic event you experienced during the war still affects you today?" was highly associated with the diagnosis of PTSD (odds ratio 7.26, 95% confidence interval: 1.57-33.60). Also, this question was shown to have a high degree of sensitivity and negative predictive value, and may be of use as a screening tool for ruling out the presence of PTSD after a traumatic war experience.

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