Mental Health of Women Political Repatriates

Abstract

This paper seeks to investigate one woman's phenomenological experience of coming back home to South Africa. The intention is to define what constitutes being a returning political exile and to ascertain its implications for mental health. Although reference is made to one person only, her experiences are similar to those of other women falling within related categories of experience, like immigrants and former long-term political prisoners. THE BACKGROUNDThis presentation is a humble contribution in an area which is complex and has the potential to evoke intense emotions for Black people of South Africa who have for many years suffered from state-initiated violence.Endeavors to document complex experiences of returning political exiles are essential at this point in time as they have a potential to portray the depth and the dynamics of the scars of violent oppression. Hopefully, once people are aware and sensitive to the life experiences of violence survivors they can plan effective intervention strategies.