In war-torn Mosul gunfire, airstrikes and violence have become a normal part of everyday life since the Iraqi military fell to the Islamic State (ISIS) in 2014. The Iraqi government forces have since regained control of Mosul, the effects of the Islamic rule are still hanging above the heads of many Iraqis.
Some are left without food and water, but several are facing mental health issues as they try to cope with the trauma of living under the violent ISIS regime. Loss of family members, injuries from crossfire and building collapses and erratic violence has led to a mental health crisis in Mosul.
Recovering from ISIS
Mental Health and Psychological Support Director of The International Medical Corps in Iraq Ibrahim Abou Khalil shared a story of the reoccurring tragedies that have led to the decline in Mosul’s mental health.
Khalil told Huffington Post that, during his visit to Mosul, a father walked into a medical center with two children, one in a stroller and the other in his arms. They were innocent victims of crossfire, and one child’s injuries were fatal. This father was among thousands of others in Mosul who were trying to cope with the loss of the ruling of the Islamic State.
Psychologists agree that even those who didn’t live under ISIS control very long are still heavily impacted by the mental health crisis in Mosul. With many families separated because some members have been killed while others are in camps, the community’s system of trust has crumbled, heightening anxiety and tensions.
Collectively, the past year’s traumatic events have caused symptoms of post-traumatic stress syndrome. Most of these cases consist of sleep problems and changes in behaviour; although, there have been some instances of suicide.
Combatting the Mental Health Crisis in Mosul
To combat the mental health crisis in Mosul, there are international organisations like Action Against Hunger. The organisation has been working in Mosul since the beginning of the crisis in 2014, offering mental health interventions to Iraqi citizens.
The most pressing goal of Action Against Hunger is to teach the suffering populations how to manage their anxiety and anger. Placing mental health professionals in displacement camps like Khazer – the first destination for displaced people – has brought psychological treatment to more than 22,000 people in Mosul and neighbouring villages.
Many of the people of Mosul facing mental health illnesses are children. Most are driven into anxiety or show symptoms of depression because of fear of the violence that had erupted for years outside their homes and, in some cases, left them trapped by collapsed building structures.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is working closely with the children caught in the chaos of war in hoping to put their mental development back on track and ease their mental pain and fears. MSF has collected data from group discussions with the children to build better psychological support systems for those facing mental health issues.
The International charity Save the Children has also been an ally in building psychological treatment plans for children facing the mental health crisis in Mosul.
Community Support in Mosul
Following the lead of the international support-led discussion groups, hairdressers and barbers in Mosul have come together to offer people from all over Iraq a safe place to share their stories.
According to the MSF most of the people who were eager to see mental health professionals kept repeating that they just wanted someone to talk to.
Beauty salons and barbershops across the city are offering support and finding solutions for one another’s war-related troubles.
Homegrown efforts like this have gained international attention from organisations such as the United Nations about the need for mental health services and centres amidst Mosul’s reconstruction.
The mental health crisis in Mosul following ISIS control must be supported by foreign aid.
As the Iraqi communities aim to redevelop and reestablish basic services and supplies like food and water, too many go without proper mental health treatment. The trauma inflicted on the people of Mosul in the last few years must be addressed in hopes for the city and country of Iraq as a whole to move forward.
by Haley Newlin
0 Comments