“Some of my kids can no longer focus on simple tasks. They forget what I’ve just told them and can’t recall recent events. I wouldn’t even say their mental health has declined — it’s been destroyed. Total psychological devastation.”
“Some of my kids can no longer focus on simple tasks. They forget what I’ve just told them and can’t recall recent events. I wouldn’t even say their mental health has declined — it’s been destroyed. Total psychological devastation.”
The continuous conflict in Palestine has had a major effect on the mental well-being of Palestinian children.
The trauma of residing in a war-ravaged region, enduring displacement, and witnessing violence can result in a variety of mental health concerns, such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and behavioral issues. Additionally, children who have endured these traumas may grapple with feelings of despair, fear, and anger. It is crucial for Palestinian children to obtain the necessary support and resources to assist them in managing the mental health consequences of the conflict.
UNICEF has identified the Gaza Strip as the most perilous location globally for children. Women and children make up over 70 percent of the casualties resulting from Israel’s offensive since October 7. Since their birth, children have been subjected to a partial Israeli blockade, enduring conditions of poverty and violence.
The predicament of minors in the Gaza Strip was already critical prior to October 7th due to a blockade imposed by Israel and additional structural obstacles. The majority of children residing in the Gaza Strip have endured distressing circumstances since October 7, 2023. These circumstances have included bereavement, extensive devastation, involuntary displacement, severe scarcities of food, water, and medication. Inadequate playgrounds and secure spaces, as well as school closures, are additional contributors to children developing mental health and psychosocial problems (ACAPS, 2024).
The solitary psychiatric hospital in Gaza has also been targeted by Israel, and the activities of the other six community mental health clinics that serve thousands of patients throughout Gaza have been interrupted as a result of air attacks (ACAPS, 2024).
In an effort to detect children who are suffering from mass depression, mutism, bedwetting, and suicidal thoughts, some medical professionals have attempted to maintain touch with youngsters via the use of WhatsApp (ACAPS, 2024). The present conflicts have had an influence on children’s mental health that cannot be compared to the condition that existed before the crisis. This is due to the fact that the level of intensity of the hostilities and the destruction of infrastructure has been unparalleled.
To put this into perspective, prior to the 7th of October, the Gaza Strip was already experiencing a significant load of mental health concerns. Approximately 54 percent of Palestinian boys and 46.5% of Palestinian girls between the ages of 6 and 12 were found to have emotional and behavioral issues, according to a survey conducted in 2017 (ACAPS, 2024).
In the year 2022, Save the Children revealed that eighty percent of the youngsters who participated in the research had signs of mental distress. Two-thirds of the children there were engaging in self-inflicted injury, and about half of them admitted to having considered ending their own lives (ACAPS, 2024).
Before October 7th, the availability of mental health care in Gaza was restricted and often subject to social stigma. As a consequence, families and community members did not give priority to mental health and psychological support (MHPSS). Dr. Mamoun Mobayed, a consultant psychiatrist, and director of treatment and rehabilitation at Qatar’s Behavioral Healthcare Center, state that children suffer from the enduring consequences of wartime conditions during their sleep. Nightmares are frequently experienced, and some individuals may suffer from nocturnal enuresis as a consequence of these nightmares.
A year ago, psychologist Farajallah, a Palestinian-American, found in her study on the impacts of war on Palestinian children that children who survive such wars often suffer serious psychological, emotional, and behavioral repercussions. Ninety-five percent of Gaza Strip children, according to her study, showed signs of trauma, sadness, and worry (Saber, 2024). According to Farajallah, the solution to the Palestine issue is not to be found in psychology but rather in a peaceful political resolution.
The ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine is having a severe impact on children’s mental and physical well-being, according to UNICEF. UN officials report many children killed and countless more suffering from anxiety and displacement. “The violence is taking a huge toll on children’s mental health,” said Jonathan Crickx, UNICEF’s chief of communication in Palestine. “We’ve received accounts of children who are deeply worried and anxious” (Ali, 2023). The UNICEF official urged all parties to ensure that children receive the specific protection that international humanitarian and human rights law guarantees them and to provide them with unequivocal protection. Additionally, the agency of the United Nations demands an urgent cessation of hostilities.
The conditions necessary to deliver humanitarian aid to children in Gaza are not only unfulfilled but also deteriorating. The prolonged embargo and continuous shelling in Gaza have severely strained the mental health of children, pushing it to its limits. The victims have endured indescribable psychological trauma resulting from acts of violence, severe bodily suffering such as amputations, and the profound loss of their families, homes, and educational institutions.
More than one million children in Gaza require mental health assistance (Save the Children, 2023). UNICEF reports that Israel has caused the deaths of more than 13,000 children in Gaza since October 7. In addition, it should be noted that there are other children who are experiencing acute malnutrition and are so weak that they lack the energy to even produce tears (Al Jazeera, 2024).
One of the mothers in Gaza said, “Our children have experienced various wars. They were already struggling with resilience, and now coping has become extremely challenging. The children are frightened, angry, and can’t stop crying. Many adults are reacting the same way. This is overwhelming for adults, let alone children.”
According to Save the Children in Gaza, they said if the war is not stopped, the battle will cause additional long-lasting psychological damage to children, with diminishing chances for recovery.
Amal, a mother of four children in Gaza between the ages of 7 and 14, expressed that “Some of my kids can no longer focus on simple tasks. They forget what I’ve just told them and can’t recall recent events. I wouldn’t even say their mental health has declined — it’s been destroyed. Total psychological devastation.” (“Complete Psychological Destruction”: Children in Gaza Have Suffered “Relentless Mental Harm” During Five Months of War – Save the Children – Occupied Palestinian Territory, 2024).
Children in Gaza are bearing the brunt of the war’s consequences at a disproportionate rate. Brain development may be irrevocably altered as a result of childhood traumas, although the repercussions might not become evident until much later in life.
During childhood, the brain undergoes critical developmental periods. Anacker explained that too much stress from grief, anxiety, or a lack of social and emotional interaction during these times can alter brain function. “There’s no effective way to completely reverse the effects of childhood trauma in adulthood, that’s why it’s essential to protect children from stress during these critical stages of development” (Welle, 2024).
Antonio Guterres, secretary-general of the United Nations, has cautioned on numerous occasions that children are “disproportionately” affected by contemporary conflicts. Children residing in regions affected by brutal conflict endure profound psychological anguish.
According to Taha et al. (2024), the Education Above All Foundation (EAA), a non-profit organization based in Qatar, is providing psychosocial assistance to a total of 35,000 children, 15,000 caregivers, and 1,000 frontline workers in the Gaza region. In addition, Save the Children is supplying leisure packs and creating secure educational environments for children who have been relocated or are in precarious situations. Organizations such as UNICEF are creating areas where children may participate in physical activities, group games, sketching, and communicate with experts who provide care. These endeavors are essential in tackling the mental health emergency among youngsters in Gaza.
But the Gaza conflict has presented considerable obstacles in providing mental health services to children, mostly owing to a myriad of circumstances. The continuous and relentless attacks, together with the compulsory displacement, as well as the loss of loved ones and exposure to extreme violence, have made many children more susceptible to experiencing anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Insufficient understanding among healthcare practitioners, a scarcity of mental health experts, and constraints on abroad aid imposed by Israel sometimes result in untreated mental health illnesses. In addition, the distribution of resources to tackle pressing emergencies, such as the shortage of essential supplies, increases the intricacy of providing mental health interventions for children in Gaza. The declining healthcare infrastructure and lack of protected zones due to ongoing bombardment exacerbate the challenges of addressing the mental health crisis among young people in Gaza.
In conclusion, the relentless conflict in Gaza has subjected Palestinian children to profound and enduring psychological trauma. These young lives are marred by experiences of violence, loss, and deprivation, which severely impact their mental health and overall development.
It is imperative that international efforts intensify to provide comprehensive mental health support and protection to these vulnerable children. Without a peaceful resolution and substantial humanitarian aid, the psychological scars inflicted by the conflict will likely persist into adulthood, perpetuating a cycle of suffering and instability.
Ensuring the mental well-being of Palestinian children is not only a moral obligation but also a crucial step towards building a future where peace and stability can prevail.
References
âComplete psychological destructionâ: Children in Gaza have suffered ârelentless mental harmâ during five months of war – Save the Children – occupied Palestinian territory. (2024, March 12). ReliefWeb. https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/complete-psychological-destruction-children-gaza-have-suffered-relentless-mental-harm-during-five-months-war-save-children#:~:text=Those%20surveyed%20for%20the%20new,behavioural%20changes%20such%20as%20an
ACAPS. (2024). Thematic report. https://www.acaps.org/fileadmin/Data_Product/Main_media/20240201_ACAPS_thematic_report_Palestine_-_impact_of_conflict_on_children_in_the_Gaza_strip.pdf
Al Jazeera. (2024, March 17). Over 13,000 children killed in Gaza, others severely malnourished: UNICEF. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/17/over-13000-children-killed-in-gaza-others-severely-malnourished-unicef
Ali, R. (2023). Israel-Palestine violence has âhuge impactâ on childrenâs mental health, warns UNICEF. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israel-palestine-violence-has-huge-impact-on-children-s-mental-health-warns-unicef/3015738
Saber, I. F. (2024, February 8). How the Israel war, blockade affect mental health of Palestinian children. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/12/how-the-israel-war-blockade-affects-mental-health-of-palestinian-children
Save the children. (2023). Life in Gaza: Whatâs life like for children growing up in conflict. Save the Children. https://www.savethechildren.org/us/charity-stories/life-for-children-growing-up-conflict-gaza#:~:text=Children%20in%20Gaza%20are%20trapped%2C%20with%20no%20safe%20place%20to%20go&text=Cases%20of%20upper%20respiratory%20infections,and%20respiratory%20and%20skin%20diseases.
Welle, D. (2024, April 26). Children in war zones face permanent mental health consequences, trauma. Frontline. https://frontline.thehindu.com/news/war-child-development-mental-health-ukraine-russia-conflict-gaza-palestine-ptsd/article68105015.ece
