May is Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States. As we bring this month to a close, we wanted to share some information relative to the severe psychological trauma inflicted on those affected by the ongoing violence in the Middle East.
Amidst the continued violence, Palestinians are facing a widespread but often overlooked mental health crisis, with children being disproportionately affected. For children, the psychological effects of violence are severe. Experts say the trauma inflicted on children in Gaza is unlike anywhere else in the world, and an entire generation will face long-term adverse mental health effects. Children in Gaza are often exposed to trauma such as witnessing shootings, seeing dead or severely injured people, and even seeing loved ones killed.
According to 2020 research on more than 900 children living under severe conditions due to the Israeli occupation:
- 32.7% of the children experienced acute PTSD symptoms that required psychological intervention
- 49.2% suffered from moderate levels of PTSD
While many injured children have acquired a permanent physical disability, many more have developed psychological impairments. The prevalence of neurotic symptoms and behavioral problems among children … is high.
However, mental health services in Palestine are severely under-supported, underfunded, lacking in infrastructural resources, and unable to meet the mental health needs of the region. Approximately one-third of Palestinians are in need of mental health interventions, and that number is expected to increase due to the continued violence, oppression, and discrimination.
Mental health services in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are community-based care, with much of the system funded by humanitarian organizations like the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (donate here). As of 2020, there were only 20 psychiatrists in the West Bank, which has an estimated population of 2.7 million Palestinians and close to 400,000 Israeli settlers.
What can you do?
See our previous post, 6 ways you can support Palestine, for resources on advocating on behalf of Palestinians, as well as organizations you can support or donate to. Continue to educate yourself on the lives and struggles of Palestinians through books, documentaries, and credible social media accounts, especially people with firsthand experience. Amplifying the voices of those directly affected by the crisis is vital in the fight for justice, peace, and freedom.
The recent ceasefire has suspended the violence, but the crisis is far from over. Israel’s occupation of the West Bank began in 1967 and has been inflicting immense suffering on Palestinians for more than 50 years. Justice for Palestine will be found only with the end of Israel’s unlawful occupation and human rights violations.
Additional resources
Learn more about the Israeli occupation
Add your name to a letter by Palestinian artists and their allies calling for an immediate and unconditional cessation of Israeli violence against Palestinians
Special thanks to:
