"Gaza’s Unspoken Reality: The Tremendous Need for Prioritizing Mental Healthcare" -- By Dr. Yasser Abu Jamei

Highlighting the sociopsychological consequences of the ongoing war on the Gaza Strip, Dr Yasser Abu Jamei, Director General of Gaza Community Mental Health Programme, published an article in This Week In Palestine titled: ‘Gaza’s Unspoken Reality: The Tremendous Need for Prioritizing Mental Healthcare’, in which he addressed the profound psychological effects of the war on the people of Gaza, in shadow of the vast destruction, violations of human rights, and the silence of the international community.

The article flagged the deterioration of the state of mental health in Gaza, observing that the raids, bombing, forced displacement, destruction of infrastructure, and food and health insecurity have all contributed to creating an unprecedented psychological crisis. Dr Abu Jamei quoted that the WHO estimates that one in five people who have experienced conflict suffer from a psychological disorder, such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia and other.

The article also pointed out, in particular to the severe psychological crisis endured by children, who make up about half of Gaza's population. Those children have been exposed to violent traumas that include scenes of killing, loss of loved ones, physical injury, permanent disabilities and repeated displacement. This has been reflected in widespread cases of anxiety, depression and psychological trauma.

Save the Children's reports have also shown, according to the article, that 35 children were born every minute in 2024 under conditions of famine, which means that  an entire generation is born and raised in Gaza in cruel conditions, deprivation  of safety, education and basic rights.

Despite serious challenges to the mental health sector, including the destruction of the GCMHP’s headquarters, the death of three female staff members, and the displacement of a large number of its staff, the organization did not stop meeting its committments. It quickly repositioned itself by establishing temporary community centres and field clinics in Rafah, Khan Younis, Deir Al Balah and Gaza City, to ensure the continued provision of psychological support services to the most vulnerable, the article explained.

In addition, Dr Abu Jamei emphasised the need to protect mental health workers and ensure their safe access to those who need them. He also stressed the importance of continuing to provide psychological services despite the difficult circumstances, while adapting work plans to the ever-changing field developments. He reaffirmed that the GCMHP “continues its professional and humanitarian struggle, through its field clinics, temporary centres, and psychological first aid teams, to provide support to the largest possible number of affected people in the Gaza Strip”.

This article is an appeal from the heart of Gaza, and a clear message to the world that: the destruction in Gaza is not only measured by the structural damage of buildings and infrastructures, but also by the minds and hearts that are silently bleeding. To ignore mental health today is to allow the pain to continue for generations to come.

To read the article in English

https://thisweekinpalestine.com/gazas-unspoken-reality/