Although Gaza is part of what is religiously perceived as a blessed, holy land of peace, it is a cursed place that has seen protracted conflict for decades, tangibly affecting the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of adolescents.
A blockage, imposed on 2 million Gazans since 2006, continues to restrict movement of people, goods and services and has seen border crossings closed. The United Nations repeatedly calls it a “protracted human dignity crisis” and a collective punishment.”
Our context lacks support for the psychosocial wellbeing of adolescents, with 51% showing symptoms of post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, increased violence, nightmares, bed-wetting and loss of hope, among others. With strong gender norms in the region, girls are especially affected. The prioritisation of physical needs during emergency assistance often comes at the expense of psychosocial aid.
A few weeks ago, I met several child brides, who described their marriages as a “jail that ended their childhood." Here in Gaza, 28% of girls are forced to marry before the age of 18. I walked into Jabalia refugee camp in Northern Gaza; its simple concrete buildings reaching as far as the horizon. Between countless of houses and people, I found Aliya*, 16. Pregnant, she spent most of her time inside. "I tried to end my life twice," she told me. Our meeting ran longer than anticipated. I knew that Aliya wanted to be heard and share her thoughts. The lives of Gaza's child brides are hidden and lonely. Sabiha*, now 18, who also lives in a refugee camp, told me that she felt "deprived" of everything. "You feel kidnapped and overwhelmed with responsibilities," she said, adding, "I can't go out. I lost my childhood, my education, my everything."
Gender norms contribute to gender vulnerabilities; discrepancies
Child brides described their first day of marriage as the worst experience of their life that has negatively influenced their psychosocial status, especially those who were unaware that they would be expected to engage in sexual intercourse.
Boys are allowed to go outside with their peers almost without restriction, with 64% of girls reporting that they aren’t invited to go out with friends, reflecting cultural restrictions on mobility. Due to conservative cultural gendered norms, girls have few opportunities for socialising, therefore they report using the internet or watching television more than boys, particularly because of their restricted mobility.
Mental health services in Gaza
Widespread gender-based violence additionally damages girls’ and women’s self-esteem and mental wellbeing, yet out of 51% of married females exposed to violence in their homes, less than 1% approached formal aid services.
Although there are many psychological and mental health providers in Gaza, I found that formal services make a minimal contribution to adolescents’ support networks. Many are too fragmented and reactive and neither age nor gender sensitive. Programmes often focus on younger children or older women and the locations of service providers are largely unknown.
Going forward, we need more cross-sectoral interventions that consider the multi-faceted nature of psychosocial wellbeing and a greater awareness of the gendered norms and practices that influence mental wellbeing in a conservative context such as Gaza. Gender norms play a key role, particularly surrounding issues of stigma and marriage and psychosocial programmes need to address such gender inequalities.
However, throughout the context’s difficulties, adolescents - and especially girls - keep looking to the future. They take inspiration from their own self-assertiveness, the power of education and their families. Girls, according to self-esteem index, show an average score of 73 percent.
*name changed to protect the girl's identity.
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