“The circumstances around our displacement were harsh and it negatively affected my mental health. We left our houses and everything behind,” says Abu Omar.
Since then, he’s suffered from sleep disturbances and anxiety, making a small living for his family by selling food from a cart. Most days he roams through the camp selling items and making around 10k SP (70 cents) per day.
Children, innocent victims of circumstances beyond their control, face not only physical hardships but also the visible and invisible scars of mental distress. For Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) staff working at the camp, the needs are clear.
“The mental health waiting area at the clinic is crowded. On average, we have 25 patients coming for individual counselling sessions every day, and around 40 patients for other mental health activities,” says Sama, MSF’s mental health activities manager at Al-Hol camp.
In our pursuit to address the mental health crisis at Al-Hol, it has been imperative to destigmatise mental health and psychosocial care. Encouraging open conversations about mental health is a crucial step in fostering a supportive community where seeking help is seen as a sign of strength, not weakness.
Fonte original msf.org
