How one organization is providing mental health care to Palestinians living through genocide
How one organization is providing mental health care to Palestinians living through genocide
Sondos Alfayoumi reports in Mondoweiss on 13 May 2024:
Gaza Community Mental Health Program (GCMHP) is a non-profit organization offering primary, secondary, and tertiary mental health interventions in the Gaza Strip since 1991. Despite the complete devastation of its Gaza headquarters in Khan Younis and the evacuation of its Deir al-Balah office due to severe damage, the organization remains committed to its mission.
Following the recent incursion of Rafah, the team at the temporary base evacuated the place, and almost all of them were displaced again. This has resulted in the organization being left with just one operational temporary base in Deir Al-Balah.
The organization faces grave challenges imposed by severe war conditions, including the destruction of its premises, staff dispersal, communication breakdowns with patients, and the depletion of medications, it has established temporary bases to provide essential mental health services in Deir al-Balah and Rafah.
Mental health professionals themselves are part of the Palestinian population, with many experiencing loss, displacement, or grief. Despite the overwhelming odds, they persist, their dedication unwavering even as resources dwindle and challenges multiply.
The organization continues to provide specialized psychosocial support sessions for its medical workforce before they engage with patients. These sessions, whether individual or group, help employees alleviate the psychological pressures they face. At its temporary headquarters in Deir al-Balah, about 35 employees work, including administrators and professionals—psychiatrists and psychologists.