Gaza is on the brink of psychological collapse, as entire generations are left traumatised by genocide

In Gaza, the darkness left behind by war is unlike any other; there is something more profound than the rubble and heavier than Israel’s destruction. It is a collective psychological breakdown that silently creeps over the souls of more than two million people, turning daily life into a long battle against fear, loss, trauma and insecurity.

With the passage of time, it becomes clear that the effects of war do not end when the bombing stops, but begin anew within the souls of those trying to survive in a reality that gives them no chance to recover.

With the destruction of the only psychiatric hospital and seven community treatment centres, and the interruption of essential medication, the sector faces a serious treatment gap that has led to severe relapses for thousands of patients.

As children, women, survivors from under the rubble and medical staff suffer from unprecedented psychological disorders, experts warn of a long-term collapse that could drag an entire generation into chronic trauma if the process of rebuilding the psychological system does not begin immediately.

Hisham al-Madloul, director of mental health at the Ministry of Health, sums up the current situation by telling the Canary:

Gaza is experiencing an unprecedented collective psychological disaster since the start of the Israeli aggression.

Collective trauma strikes Gaza society… and psychological survival is lost

The loss of security, mass death, scenes of rubble, and the absence of even a minimum level of safety are all complex disasters that have triggered an unprecedented wave of psychological illness in Gaza.

Experts say that Gazans today live in a state of ‘constant shock,’ keeping their minds and bodies in a state of constant alert, with no place to rest and no respite to catch their breath.

The psychological sector has not been spared from direct targeting. The occupation destroyed the only hospital specialising in psychiatry, as well as seven community centres that dealt with the most fragile cases.

This destruction not only left a therapeutic void, but also disrupted an entire system that was barely meeting pre-war needs.

It’s spreading

With the collapse of these facilities, the sector in Gaza experienced a severe shortage of essential psychiatric medications, causing serious relapses in patients who had been stable for years, some of whom became emergency cases.

Psychiatric teams, which were already limited, are now facing enormous pressure that exceeds human capacity.

Doctors and specialists are working without equipment or medicines, amid daily scenes of deep psychological trauma in Gaza.

The sector is seeing a huge increase in demand for psychological help, while its capacity is almost zero.

Health institutions are recording an unprecedented increase in:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Severe depression.
• Chronic anxiety and stress.
• Sleep disorders.
• Aggressive or withdrawn behaviour in children

Al-Madloul warns that these disorders will become chronic, transmissible across generations if treatment is not started urgently.

Mental health in Gaza is on the verge of collapse

Al-Madloul warns that the future of mental health in Gaza is at stake, calling for: Rebuilding the infrastructure for psychological treatment. Urgently providing medication, expanding the number of specialised staff, and launching long-term programmes for community recovery.

He concludes by telling the Canary:

Gaza today is not only facing physical destruction… it is facing a war on the soul, and if it is not treated, it will not be able to rise again.

Featured image via the Canary