Mental Health & Psycho-social Support

A Mental Health Crisis in the Making

A severe mental health crisis is unfolding in Gaza. Ongoing hostilities expose people to extreme stressors like direct violence, constant bombardments, displacement, loss of loved ones, family separations, and the destruction of homes and infrastructure. The population lives in perpetual fear and anxiety, lacking any sense of present safety and dreading the future. These relentless stressors have worsened the mental health and psychosocial needs of an already vulnerable community.

Before the escalation in October 2023, approximately 485,000 people in Gaza – nearly one in every four – were already grappling with mental health conditions. Since the onset of current hostilities, this number has surged dramatically. UNICEF now estimates that over a million children urgently need mental health and psychosocial support.

The situation is dire, and immediate action is needed to address the escalating mental health crisis and provide the necessary support to the people of Gaza.

What is Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS)?

MHPSS are crucial services aimed at safeguarding and enhancing the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of affected populations. In the context of war and conflict, MHPSS plays a vital role in alleviating the profound mental and psychosocial burdens individuals endure, fostering resilience, and promoting recovery.

In Gaza, where the population faces relentless stressors from ongoing conflict, MHPSS services are essential. They provide critical support to help individuals cope with trauma and build resilience, enabling them to rebuild their lives and contribute to community healing.

Without MHPSS, the mental health crisis in Gaza will persist, leaving many in distress and suffering from conditions like depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety. This not only affects individual wellbeing but also impedes the physical, social, and educational development of children and adolescents.

By addressing the mental health needs of adults, MHPSS services empower parents to better support their children and enable community members to assist one another effectively. Equally important, supporting the mental health of young people cultivates a healthier, more resilient future generation—a vital investment for Gaza’s long-term stability.

Our Work in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support

YVS supports the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of people living in Gaza through integrating MHPSS in all our programming, particularly focusing on youth.

Drawing on years of experience with university students, YVS’s team of psychotherapists and life coaches now provides personalised trauma support to displaced young adults aged 15-30.

. This equips them with essential coping tools and enables them to support peers and family members during these challenging times.

In the coming months, we are expanding our efforts. This includes offering group and individual therapy sessions tailored for children, youth, and adults, alongside a specialised program for caregivers. Our aim is to strengthen the entire family network, fostering resilience throughout the community.

Through these initiatives, YVS not only addresses immediate distress but also cultivates long-term community health and harmony. MHPSS is key to rebuilding and sustaining wellbeing, ensuring people in Gaza can thrive despite ongoing challenges.

Mobile Community Kitchens

YVS has set up a mobile community kitchen to deliver nutritious cooked food to people. The kitchen is funded solely by private donations, which means we only open it when we can – often once per week. We open it in a different neighbourhood each time to try to ensure our small resources are shared fairly.

‘It is the little things,’ said Fatima, 85, who attended the YVS Community Kitchen in Gaza City, ‘whoever cooked the rice today is an artist. Rice is my favourite food but we rarely see it in the markets now and the few community kitchens that make rice at all, ever make it this good. It reminds me of home.’

Fatima, like the majority of people in Gaza City, now get the majority of their meals from community kitchens. The YVS Community Kitchen in Gaza City offers one nutritious meal per day, two times per week.