The World Health Organization has confirmed that mental health needs in the Gaza Strip are increasing sharply as a result of the devastating effects of the Israeli war of extermination, and the difficult humanitarian conditions it left behind, the destruction of infrastructure, and a decline in psychological support services.
Dr. Khaled Saeed, the organization’s regional mental health advisor, said in press statements on Saturday that mental health needs in Gaza “will not disappear suddenly after the ceasefire, but rather will continue for a long time,” stressing that “this is a long journey that requires continued support for communities during the coming stages.”
He explained that the priority at the current stage is to “integrate the components of mental health and psychosocial support into the work of all sectors, whether education, protection, water and sanitation, or food security,” indicating that the goal is not to establish isolated hospitals for mental health, but rather to make them part of basic services in various sectors.
Dr. Saeed pointed out that “mental health is a collective responsibility,” pointing out that it “is not limited to treating diseases, but rather aims to enable individuals to achieve their full potential, enhance their ability to face difficult situations and contribute to the development of their societies.”
He added that it is necessary to “ensure the integration of mental health considerations into all areas of work related to reconstruction, rebuilding infrastructure, services and communities,” explaining that the current crisis has led to a doubling of the psychological needs of different age groups, with problems varying between men, women and children.
He stressed that “the required approach must focus on the person himself, as it is not possible to follow a general approach to community mental health management without taking into account the specificity of individual cases.”
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported earlier this year that more than a million children in Gaza are in need of psychological and social support as a result of the profound effects of the Israeli war of genocide on the Strip, while the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) warned that about 660,000 children in the Gaza Strip were deprived of education for the third year in a row due to the aggression, making them at risk of becoming a “lost generation.”