SBBWU Peshawar: PhD on effects of terrorism on women red flags PTSD

Neelam Ehsan collected data at IDP camps for her thesis

PESHAWAR:

Neelam Ehsan from Department of Psychology, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University Peshawar successfully defended her PhD on the psychological impact of terrorism on internally displaced women.

She completed her PhD under the supervision of Professor Dr Mah Nazir Riaz, former dean of the faculty of social sciences at SBBWU Peshawar. Her external examiner was Professor Dr Aneesul Haq, National Institute of Psychology, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad.



While talking to The Express Tribune, Ehsan said terrorism affects women and children in various ways. “One of the biggest hurdles is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). What makes it worse is that women are not able to share their problems in patriarchal families and find most confidants narrow-minded,” she added.



Get up, stand up

Ehsan said the stress of being displaced and living in camps encourages many women to raise their voice for their rights. “When there is stress, women are left with no choice but to be confidant. At first, they hesitate, but later, they become bold and talk about their rights and issues they are facing,” Ehsan said.

In the last few years, due to militancy and military operations in tribal areas, hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, in which women were in majority. Ehsan visited camps and met the women there, and discussed their issues.

Her defence was attended by many professionals and researchers from different sectors who were interested in the topic.



On the occasion, Dr Rubi Bilal, Controller of Examinations, declared this was the third PhD defence from the Department of Psychology at SBBWU Peshawar.

She added in future, more quality MPhil and PhD graduates are expected to emerge from different departments of the university.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30^th,  2016.