Traumatised by peace? A critique of five assumptions in the theory and practice of conflict-related trauma policy in Northern Ireland

English In recent years there has been a growing international recognition of the impact of violent conflict on mental health and a growth in interventions to deal with what have come to be referred to as the psychosocial dimensions of conflict. Mental health interventions are widely understood to be a crucial feature of contemporary peace building. This article critically examines the intersection of these two developments – peace building and psychosocial dimensions of conflict – as they have been articulated in relation to dealing with conflict-related trauma during the peace process in Northern Ireland.