22 CHIARA MAGLIACANE
(French 2009). Lefebvre’s theory of social production of space might explain why at
interface areas, where violence can easily occur, the prevalence of mental disorders is
higher. This theory states how the space, divided into physical, mental and social, is
perceived through ‘representational spaces’, where the space is lived and experienced
by individuals through perceptions of its associated images and symbols. This space
reflects the physical world giving symbolic meanings to its objects, so that the
conceived is related to these representations of space (Lefebvre 1974). If social space
is related to the conceived and understood through a complex dynamic of symbols,
then it is understandable how the perpetrating of violence at interface areas influences
the social space of individuals, perpetrating its symbols of violence and influencing
the perceived, as well as mental health. Therefore, space does not represent only the
physical territory, but it is also socially reproduced (Lefebvre 1974), because through
the space people perceive the sense of the world (Foka 2015), and it has a central role
in creating conflict in contested cities (Ross 2007). Space is important in changing
conflict relationship and, more specifically, representing the sphere, which experts
need to address in order to reduce mental illness.
French’s study is important in determining the relationship between conflict,
residential segregation and poor mental health, but it does not consider this
implication for conflict transformation. Therefore, the data reflects not only a
relationship between the consequence of the violence of the Troubles and mental
illness, but also social factors that shape the prevalence of mental illness among
individuals in those defined areas. This argument is more cogent when informed by
the concept of public space, as suggested in the last paragraph. In addition,
Bourdieu’s theory of practice and de Certeau’s theory of everyday life can help to
expand this analysis. Blending these concepts and theories can help explain the
importance of the analysis of mental illness as a marker to transform, change and
mitigate underlying conflict. In effect, it is explicative that poor mental health can
easily develop at interface areas where the probability of violence remains high and
can represent another perspective of conflict transformation that may enable
researchers to systematise an intervention.