(NPR) – How do you help a former captive reclaim her life? That’s the question mental health professionals face as they treat more than 200 women and children freed from the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram last Saturday in Nigeria. According to reports, the majority of those rescued are children and a number of the teens and women are pregnant. The physical and mental health needs boggle the mind: basic health screening for all and maternity care for those pregnant; post-traumatic care; social and community support; rape counseling for women whether pregnant or not. The Chief of the United Nations Population Fund has said that the organization is providing health screening as well as psychological counseling for the rescued women.
