These studies suggest that there are a number of periods in which trauma has occurred as a result of mass violence. This has occurred against the background of already existing mental health problems, most usually termed ―common mental disorders‖ [CMD]. The general mental health picture that obtains in Zimbabwe indicates that CMD have been increasing in Zimbabwe over the past three decades. These are summarised in Table 1 below. The first epidemiological studies indicated a picture that largely similar to that obtaining in western countries as well as in African countries, with prevalence rates of roughly between 20 to 30%. Some rates were higher, but generally the pattern was similar to that seen in most of Africa (Reeler.1991). However, it appears that the rates have shifter upwards in a dramatic fashion in recent years, as seen in a recent unpublished community survey in Harare, which showed a prevalence rate of nearly 40%. There was also a marked shift in the risk factors associated with CMD, with experience of violence increasing risk significantly, and most startling the association with having goods confiscated, which increased the risk by 14 times. Thus, it would appear that not only has the deteriorating socio-economic environment had a deleterious effect on the mental health of Zimbabweans, but also that the increased levels of violence have been having an effect. Table 1 Zimbabwean studies of the prevalence of disorders due to Trauma Sample Instrument Prevalence Study Amani Trust [1997] Community survivors SRQ-20 13% Human Rights Forum [1998] Food riots victims SRQ-8 36% Idasa [2006] SRQ-8 47% SRQ-8 49.50% Reeler et al [1998] Zimbabwe refugees in South Africa [street survey] Zimbabwe refugees in South Africa [multiple sites] Primary care clinics SRQ-20 51% WOZA women [2007] WOZA members HTQ 53% Action Aid International [2005] SRQ-8 69% CSVR [2007] Victims of Operation Murambatsvina Women refugees in South Africa [clinic attendees] SRQ-8 71% Reeler& Mupinda Amani Trust [2002] War veterans Commercial farm workers SRQ-20 SRQ-8 73% 81% SACST [2008] Psycho-social support for victims of organized violence and torture Recent expert opinion has made clear statements about what should take place in states of complex emergencies (Mollica et al. 2004): Early mental health interventions should focus on supporting public health activities aimed at reducing mortality and morbidity; offering psychological first aid, identifying and triaging seriously ill patients who need specialised psychiatric care, and mobilizing community-based resiliency and adaptation to the new circumstances affecting people during the emergency.