This analysis highlights the high levels of vulnerability of individuals to post-traumatic stress in the context of extremist armed groups, such as those in the Sahel, due to the violent and unpredictable nature of conflicts. 

Carried out in Burkina Faso’s Cascades region among 1,155 people across all target communities, the study shows that experiences such as physical attacks, kidnappings, held hostage, witnessing assassinations, forced displacement or property abandonment are factors contributing to post-traumatic stress symptoms. 

It also reveals a correlation between mental health disorders, social cohesion, and livelihoods in conflict-affected contexts. The study concludes that peacebuilding interventions must simultaneously address three key dimensions: preventing and reducing post-traumatic stress, strengthening social relations, and supporting the socio-economic recovery of those made vulnerable by the security crisis.